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Gillarms
Rank 4
Rank 4
August 7, 2023
Solved

Do OVO have tariffs with no standing charge for low gas usage?

  • August 7, 2023
  • 13 replies
  • 3275 views

I'm thinking of installing an Air Source Heating Pump which obviously will increase my electricity usage but massively decrease my gas usage. At the moment, I have a Farmhouse cooker (came with the house when I moved in) and I very rarely use the ovens or grill as I have an Air Fryer. I do, however use the gas hob, not much though as I live alone and tend to make curries, stews etc. in a huge pot and then freeze it so I'm probably lucky if I turn a gas ring on once a week.  Anyway, if I get a Heat Pump, I'm going to be forking out roughly £100 a year for a gas standing charge while probably only using about £50, or less, in gas. I could get rid of my cooker and buy a completely electric cooker but, A; that's an additional expense I don't need and B; unless I bought another Farmhouse cooker (much more expensive than the size of cooker I actually need), I'm going to have a huge space in my kitchen next to a smaller cooker. So, finally, my question is, do OVO have a tariff that charges more per gas unit but does away with the Standing Charge altogether? 

Best answer by Jeffus

Updated on 28/07/26 by Abby_OVO

 

Utilita is the most well know supplier with zero standing charges but as a result higher unit rates.

You could for example look into having your electricity from ovo and gas from utilita. 

You would need to phone up utilita for a quote as they won't quote for gas only on their website. The website tells people to phone up for gas only quotes. 

https://utilita.co.uk/

Obviously that adds complexity and it may not save you money due to the higher unit rates. 

 

OVO do not currently offer any tariffs that are free of standing charges, but we will always do our best to keep standing charges as low as we can based upon market prices. If you don’t use your gas or are thinking about having the gas supply removed, check out the topic below:

 

13 replies

BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
August 7, 2023

You can check yourself @Gillarms 

https://plans.ovoenergy.com/

but I don’t think they do 

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Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
August 8, 2023

iirc there’s barely any zero standing charge tariff these days either to be honest.

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Jeffus
Rank 20
JeffusSolved
Rank 20
August 8, 2023

Updated on 28/07/26 by Abby_OVO

 

Utilita is the most well know supplier with zero standing charges but as a result higher unit rates.

You could for example look into having your electricity from ovo and gas from utilita. 

You would need to phone up utilita for a quote as they won't quote for gas only on their website. The website tells people to phone up for gas only quotes. 

https://utilita.co.uk/

Obviously that adds complexity and it may not save you money due to the higher unit rates. 

 

OVO do not currently offer any tariffs that are free of standing charges, but we will always do our best to keep standing charges as low as we can based upon market prices. If you don’t use your gas or are thinking about having the gas supply removed, check out the topic below:

 

Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
August 8, 2023

Great unbiased advice for you here, @Gillarms.


We’d love to hear more from you about your considerations of a heat pump. We have lots of heat pump members here as well, in case you had any specific questions around that.

 

Here’s a few topics already set up that you might find useful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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juliamc
Rank 20
Rank 20
August 8, 2023

I’m in that very position of having just a gas hob and an hp so v low gas usage. I decided to just cough up the £100 annual standing charge and try to forget about it. With a well installed heat pump you should have lower bills overall so focus on that! Some OVO customers who have had their gas meter removed have reported great agro trying to get OVO to recognise the fact, and are still being billed the standing charge. So on balance you’ll have a quieter life enjoying the tiny amount of gas you use and thinking of it as a luxury!!

Gillarms
Rank 4
GillarmsAuthor
Rank 4
August 8, 2023

I guess the good thing about having a gas hob is I can still cook and heat water in a power cut. Unfortunately I live in a village that lost power for almost a week after Storm Arwen and then again after the next two big storms. At least I could heat up water to have a sink wash instead of relying on my electric shower. You're right, juliamc, leaving my gas supply as it is might be the better choice. Who knows, the standing charge might come down in price at some point.

 

Garms
Tim_OVO
OVO Staff
OVO Forum Legend
August 23, 2023

@Gillarms what energy tariff did you choose in the end?

Carbon neutral - we need a community to get there! My green tech: Aclara SGM 1411-B smart meter, Chameleon IHD6
Gillarms
Rank 4
GillarmsAuthor
Rank 4
August 23, 2023

I'm still waiting for the appointment to see if I can even get an Air Source Heat Pump. If I do decide to get one, I'm just going to stick with Ovo's standard Dual Fuel tariff (for now). It's all just a case of wait and see at the moment.

Garms
Rank 4
December 14, 2023

Hi

I am wondering if I can take a payment  break while my property is being renovated & empty.

This will be for around 1 year and would only affect the standing charge.

Thanks 

Vamatex

 

 

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
December 14, 2023

Hi @Vamatex ,

This one’s best for the Support Team! Try https://ovoenergy.com/help and they’ll see what’s possible.

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