What the electricity service charge includes
The electricity service charge on your summary invoice is for lighting the communal areas of your block or estate. Electricity charges for lifts, door entry systems and communal heating and hot water are included as part of those specific charges.
Your electricity charge is a portion of the bill from the utility company which takes its reading from the communal supply meter.
A meter can cover more than one block or part of the estate. Once we receive a bill from the utilities company, we calculate the cost across each of these services based on the daily usage for each supply.
Consumption, standing charges and metering charges
Electricity costs include electricity consumption, standing charges and metering charges, also known as ‘operating costs’.
Consumption costs
Consumption costs are the cost of energy that has been used. Consumption costs can use estimated, actual or smart meter readings, and will be charged at a pence per kilowatt hour (p/kwhr) rate.
Standing charges
Standing charges contribute towards installation, maintenance and administration costs for the local Distribution Network Operator . It is a fixed charge applicable to each meter.
Metering charges
Costs associated with the metering for each site, including but not limited to charges made by the:
• Meter Operator
• Data Collector
• Data Aggregator
• Meter Administrator
• Settlement Agency
If you live in a block or street property where the consumption is low, the standing and metering charges still apply and do not reduce.
Some of our blocks have solar panels which are a renewable source of energy and help to reduce emissions. While this may reduce costs, solar panels need regular maintenance which residents must pay for.
Direct costs, indirect costs and overheads
Direct costs
This is the invoiced amount from the utilities company excluding VAT. It includes consumption costs, standing charges and metering charges.
Indirect costs
These are costs associated with the supply of communal electricity. For example, costs for our Energy Management Team procuring energy contracts, checking utilities supplies and meters, and resolving discrepancies with suppliers.
Overheads
These are a proportion of Camden’s staff time checking or paying utility bills. Indirect costs and overheads are added to the direct costs for each meter.
Camden buys electricity through the LASER public sector buying organisation. This means we join with other organisations to buy electricity at cheaper wholesale rates. This benefits Camden’s housing and schools.
Service charges guide for leaseholders
The service charge guide for leaseholders (PDF) has information about all your service charges and how they are calculated.