Last Updated: 01 October 2022
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EDF Energy Standard Variable Tariff is now set by the Energy Price Guarantee
Compared with the 1 April 2022 Energy Price Cap, this is how your new rates compare…
- From 1 October 2022, households with average energy usage, paying by monthly direct debit, will see their energy bills increase by another £529 to £2,500.
- The good news. It is £1,000 lower than it would have been under the energy price cap.
- The not so good news… it still increases your energy bills by another 27%.
- This is the fourth sequential increase in energy bills since April 2021. In total energy bills have increased by £1,362 (120%) over that time. We know that sounds bad but, consider this. These are still massively subsidised energy bills. Things could have been a lot worse.
- Those paying by prepayment meter, or quarterly by cheque, will do even worse. Their new energy bills will come in at £2,559 and £2,715 respectively.
How will EDF Energy Standard Variable Tariff customers be affected?
EDF Energy has announced details of their new Standard (Variable) tariff rates effective 1 October 2022. They have priced to the maximum level allowed by the energy price guarantee.
These price changes have been updated on our website.
This increase will affect the majority of EDF Energy’s customers (we estimate 90%+) most of whom are now on the Standard Variable Tariff.
Here is a summary of the key changes. Please note that not all numbers will add exactly due to rounding.
How much is the EDF Energy Standard Variable Tariff?
Customers paying by Monthly Direct Debit
Dual Fuel
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £529 (+27%), from £1,970 to £2,500.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,222 (+96%).
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £554 (+24%), from £2,269 to £2,823.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,331 (+89%).
Gas only customers
- Gas customers will see their gas bills increase by another £360 (+37%), from £983 to £1,344.
- This takes the annual gas bill increase (since 1 October 2021) to £760 (+130%).
Electricity only customers
Electricity only customers fare slightly better, but the increase is still a right shocker.
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their electricity bills increase by £169 (+17%), from £987 to £1,156.
- The annual increase is £462 (+67%)
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £193 (+15%), from £1,286 to £1,480.
- The annual increase is £571 (+63%)
Customers paying Quarterly by Cash (meaning debit card) or Cheque (does anyone still do that?)
Heads Up! If you are still doing this please stop. You are pointlessly paying a £200+ annual premium probably just because you “don’t like someone being able to dip into your bank account”. There are huge protections offered by the Direct Debit Guarantee and paying this way makes absolutely no sense.
Dual Fuel
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £615 (+29%), from £2,100 to £2,714.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,345 (+98%). Worse than for any other energy bill payment method.
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £652 (+27%), from £2,414 to £3,067.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,472 (+92%).
Gas only customers
- Gas customers will see their gas bills increase by another £409 (+39%), from £1,048 to £1,456.
- This takes the annual gas bill increase (since 1 October 2021) to £830 (+133%).
Electricity only customers
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their electricity bills increase by £206 (+20%), from £1,052 to £1,258.
- The annual increase is £515 (+69%)
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £244 (+18%), from £1,367 to £1,611.
- The annual increase is £642 (+66%)
Customers paying by Prepayment Meter
Dual Fuel
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £542 (+27%), from £2,017 to £2,559.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,250 (+96%).
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £564 (+24%), from £2,314 to £2,879.
- This takes the annual increase (since 1 October 2021) to £1,356 (+89%).
Gas only customers
- Gas customers will see their gas bills increase by another £394 (+39%), from £1,018 to £1,413.
- This takes the annual gas bill increase (since 1 October 2021) to £803 (+132%).
Electricity only customers
Electricity only customers paying by prepayment meter see the lowest overall absolute and percentage increase.
- Those with Standard electricity meters will see their electricity bills increase by £148 (+15%), from £998 to £1,147.
- The annual increase is £447 (+64%)
- Those with Economy 7 electricity meters will see their energy bills increase by £170 (+13%), from £1,295 to £1,466.
- The annual increase is £553 (+61%)
To see how you are affected based on your exact energy usage, you can do an energy price comparison here.
What can EDF Energy Standard Variable Tariff customers do about their energy bills?
Quite a lot actually. And we don’t just mean by hacking back on your energy usage.
Although there is currently no functioning energy switching market, the way the Energy Price Guarantee was implemented means that different customer groups have been treated very differently. Some of this may be accidental (because the Guarantee was rolled out in a rush); some of it may be deliberate. Either way, there are big differences in the unit rates that different consumers pay for their energy based upon how they pay, their meter type and the tariff they are on.
We are finalising our research on the potential savings that energy consumers can make by optimising their choice of payment method, energy meter and energy tariff.
Spoiler alert. The potential savings are significant.
Stay tuned; all will be revealed shortly.
Should I be switching from the EDF Energy Standard Variable Tariff to a fixed energy tariff?
At the present time, you do not have much of a choice as there is no functioning energy switching market anyway. But even if there was a choice, we would recommend that you stay put. The current (1 October 2022) price of the EDF Standard (Variable) Tariff is covered by the Energy Price Guarantee. This means it is a subsidised tariff. It is set at a level that is around £1,000 cheaper than it otherwise would have been. Although wholesale gas and electricity prices have continued to fall since the Energy Price Guarantee was put in place, non-subsidised energy prices would still be at least £700 above this level.
So, to re-enforce the message. Stay put.
However, even if you are on the EDF Energy Standard Variable tariff, there are still things you can do to minimise what you pay for that energy. Full analysis with recommendations to follow. Stay tuned!
If you would like to know when our analysis and research on this is released, please do one of the following. Sign up to our newsletter (in the footer of this page), check our home page from time to time for updates, or follow us on Twitter.
If you would like to know more about the energy price guarantee and how it affects you, please check out our Energy Price Guarantee Guide for all the latest information.
Tariff Overview
The EDF Energy Standard variable tariff is called Standard (Variable).
This tariff is usually available for new and existing customers to sign up to. Currently, EDF Energy are not accepting new customers onto this tariff.
Data from Ofgem, the GB gas and electricity regulator, shows that, as of April 2022, EDF Energy had around 3.3 million customers on the Standard tariff or other default tariff. This represents approximately 64% of EDF Energy’s customer base. This comprises 1.3 million EDF Energy gas accounts and 2 million EDF Energy electricity accounts.
This number has grown substantially over the past year for 2 main reasons. Firstly, customers on fixed energy tariffs automatically move onto the standard tariff when their fixed tariff comes to and end. In normal market conditions, customers might choose another fixed energy tariff. These times and not normal however. And with Standard tariffs being the cheapest in market, customers have not incentive (or option) to move. Secondly, as smaller energy suppliers have gone bust en masse, EDF Energy has stepped in to mop up hundreds of thousands of their stranded, so reversing customer losses from earlier years.
But even this number is likely to be a significant under-estimate. Ofgem data is shockingly out of date, and the likely number of EF Energy customers on the Standard Variable tariff now likely exceeds 4.5 million (90%).
Key Features of the EDF Energy Standard (Variable) Tariff
Key features of the Standard (Variable) tariff include:
– This is a Variable rate tariff which means that your energy prices may go up or down. Prices are subject to change on 30 days advance notice. A record of price changes is shown in the table below.
– You can opt for either paper or online billing – it does not affect the price that you pay.
– The tariff is available for customers taking gas only, electricity only or dual fuel.
– Payment options include Monthly Direct Debit and Cash / Cheque monthly on receipt of your bill.
– This tariff is also available to customers with prepayment meters (the tariff name is Standard (Variable) Prepayment).
– There are no early termination fees with this tariff.
– EDF Energy is signed up to the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
– EDF Energy is signed up to the Energy Switch Guarantee.
Other things worth knowing
If you would like to learn more about EDF Energy we’ve produced a quick and handy supplier smapshot.
History of Price Changes
EDF Energy Standard tariff price changes are listed (in reverse order) in the Table below.
| Effective Date | Annual Dual Fuel Bill | Change | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2022 | £2,500 | £530 increase | Energy Price Guarantee (which replaced and superseded the Energy Price Cap. For now anyway). |
| 1 Apr 2022 | £1,970 | £693 increase | Energy Price Cap v8 1 Apr 2022 to 30 Sep 2022 |
| 1 Oct 2021 | £1,277 | £139 increase | Energy Price Cap v7 1 Oct 2021 to 31 Mar 2022 |
| 1 Apr 2021 | £1,138 | £96 increase | Energy Price Cap v6 1 Apr 2021 to 30 Sep 2021 |
| 1 Oct 2020 | £1,042 | £84 cut | Energy Price Cap v5 1 Oct 2020 to 31 Mar 2021 |
| 1 Apr 2020 | £1,126 | £16 cut | Energy Price Cap v4 1 Apr 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 |
| 1 Oct 2019 | £1,142 | £75 cut | Energy Price Cap v3 1 Oct 2019 to 31 Mar 2020 |
| 1 Apr 2019 | £1,217 | £114 increase | Energy Price Cap v2 1 Apr 2019 to 30 Sep 2019 |
| 1 Jan 2019 | £1,103 | £88 cut | Energy Price Cap v1 Opening level of the Energy Price Cap |
| 31 Aug 2018 | £1,191 | £67 increase | |
| 7 Jun 2018 | £1,124 | £16 increase | |
| Opening level 2018 | £1,108 | ||
| Source: energyscanner.com |
Table Notes
Annual bills are based upon a dual fuel customer paying by Monthly Direct Debit with average annual usage; 12,000 kWh for gas and 2,900 kWh for electricity. We have re-indexed all bill values to this usage level.
Read more …
– EDF Energy Supplier Overview
– EDF Energy Review
– What is the energy price guarantee?
– What is the energy price cap?
– EDF Energy Fuel Mix
– EDF Energy Bill explained
– How much will energy bills increase?
– EDF Energy contact details
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