Monthly standing charge

The standing charge plays a dual role in the bill. For a high-consumption household (over 10 000 kWh/yr) €5/month = €60/yr = 0.6 c/kWh added — a small marginal factor. For low consumption (1 500 kWh/yr) the same €5/month = €60/yr = 4 c/kWh added — significant.

The lowest c/kWh price therefore does not always mean the lowest bill for a small household. Verrokit's "Estimated monthly cost" column combines the energy fee and standing charge at your consumption — change the estimate and the list re-sorts.

Many companies offer standing-charge-free introductory periods for new customers (1–8 months). These are meaningful benefits especially for small consumption. After the intro, the standing charge returns to normal.

Standing charge impact at different consumptions

The standing charge is a fixed euro amount, but the effective c/kWh impact depends on consumption:

1,500 kWh/yr (apartment): €4.45/mo × 12 = €53.40 = 3.56 c/kWh effective

5,000 kWh/yr (terraced house): €4.45/mo × 12 = €53.40 = 1.07 c/kWh effective

18,000 kWh/yr (electrically heated detached): €4.45/mo × 12 = €53.40 = 0.30 c/kWh effective

At low consumption the standing charge is a 10× factor compared to a heavy user. Hence the comparison basis is always total cost, not pure c/kWh.

The fee-free intro benefit

Many retailers offer a 3–8 month fee-free intro period to new customers. These lower the first-year standing charge significantly — e.g. 6 months × €4.45/mo = €26.70 saved.

Example Cheap Energy 6 months fee-free + €4.45/mo thereafter: first year standing charge is only €26.70 (6 mo × €0, then 6 mo × €4.45). Second year normal €53.40.

For low consumption (under 3,000 kWh/yr) the intro period can be a bigger factor than the energy price in year one. Hence it pays to tender actively every 12–24 months — as a switching customer you always get the intro benefit at the new retailer.

Standing charge vs transfer fee — not the same

Do not confuse the standing charge with the transfer fee's fixed part. Standing charge is the retailer's portion (Fortum, Nordic Green etc.) — this you can tender for. Transfer standing charge is the local grid company's (Caruna, Helen Sähköverkko) portion — this you cannot tender.

A typical retailer standing charge is €2–8/mo. The grid company's is typically €10–30/mo — often larger. Verrokit shows only the retailer standing charge, since transfer cannot be tendered.