2026-46 The Last 20 Years: Friday, 30th. October 2026

It is a fine autumn day out there and after 13 days indoors I shall at last be venturing out and into town; coffee with mum followed by conversation and beer with friends. I am looking forward to it. On the penultimate day of October I find myself reflecting on my energy bill; October is always the month when there is a shift from summer consumption to winter consumption – and higher bills. But I have reason to be pleased with myself and furthermore I am one of those low-energy users who will benefit enormously from the elimination of the gas standing charge announced in the Budget of this week. I have already benefited from the VAT reduction on electricity. Being a positive and glass-half-full sort of person I have become slightly irritated by all the negativity out there, from people who seem to think a small step in the right direction is somehow a bad thing.

For me the heating season has not yet started in earnest. I have had the heating on for short periods – 1-3 hours a day – on some (but not all) days since 21st. October. My energy consumption AND my energy bill overall are lower than they were this time last year. My gas and electricity tariffs have been reducing since 1st. January 2023. These are the facts for me in my home in Devon, but you might find them hard to believe if you listen to some commentators in the media.

I stand to gain a lot from the Budget announcement for the gas Standing Charge. In September 2026 my average daily gas consumption was 0.9kWh at a cost of 5p. The Standing charge increased the daily gas bill to 38p and is therefore a staggering 87% – yes, 87 per cent – of my gas bill. So yes, of course I will be better off with the Standing Charge gone. And yes I know the charge is transferred to the Exchequer – something I have argued should be done since 2000. But at least income tax is progressive, whilst a fixed Standing Charge is regressive – you pay the same whether you use 30kWh a day or 300kWh a day.

At the end of the day I am not going to allow all the negativity to get me down. With tariff reductions since 2023, the reduction in VAT on electricity to 0% and the upcoming removal of the gas standing charge I will not only save money on my energy bill but I will be able to keep a little warmer at home this winter. And I will have the £200 Winter Fuel Payment in a month or so. I am not complaining. Especially in a world where an American President can start a war in the Middle East that is costing all of us dearly. I think Britain is doing fairly well thank you very much.

**On Monday I shall post a special report on energy consumption, winter and summer consumption, prices and the standing charge, providing detail that many might find helpful.