Important Update: Standing Charge Increases Coming April 2026
At Ruby Energy, we want to keep you fully informed about changes in the energy market that could affect your costs.
One of the biggest industry‑wide changes coming in April 2026 is a significant rise in standing charges due to updates in Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) costs.
It’s important that all of our customers understand what this means.
What Is Changing?
TNUoS charges are set by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), a UK Government–owned organisation that operates independently to oversee and balance the country’s electricity system and cover the cost of maintaining and operating the UK’s high-voltage electricity transmission network.
According to the latest tariff forecasts, the fixed TNUoS element is expected to increase by approximately 94% year-on-year for 2026/27.
The increase reflects:
- Major upgrades to the national grid
- Connecting more renewable generation
- Reinforcing infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand
For most small businesses, a large proportion of TNUoS is recovered through the standing charge (a fixed daily amount per meter), rather than just the unit rate.
The final 2026/27 transmission tariffs were published in January 2026 by National Energy System Operator under the industry framework overseen by Ofgem.
These apply from 01 April 2026 across the market.
This is an industry-wide change and the charge is not set by individual suppliers.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
From April 2026, the upcoming TNUoS increase will affect the standing charge element of your electricity bill.
Standing charges are fixed daily fees applied per meter, regardless of how much electricity you use.
This means the change does not impact your unit rate (p/kWh), but instead increases the fixed cost that contributes towards maintaining and operating the national transmission network.
For Ruby Energy customers, this means:
- Any increase will be reflected in the standing charge portion of your bill.
- Your usage rates (p/kWh) are not directly impacted by this specific change.
- Businesses with multiple meters may see a greater overall impact, as the charge applies per meter.
- Even if your electricity consumption stays the same, your total bill could rise due to higher fixed costs.
In practical terms, businesses should factor in potentially higher fixed network charges when planning budgets for 2026/27 and beyond.
Illustrative Impact by Meter Band (TNUoS Charges Only)
Meter Type | 2025/26 Daily Charge | 2026/27 Forecast | Daily Increase | Approx Annual Increase* |
Small Business (NHH Medium) | £0.76 | £1.598634 | +£0.838 | ~£306 |
HH LV1 (0‑80 kVA) | £3.91 | £7.275302 | +£3.368/day | ~£1,230 |
HH LV2 (80‑500 kVA) | £6.53 | £14.408552 | +£7.879/day | ~£2,876 |
*These figures focus only on the TNUoS part of the standing charge and illustrate potential yearly impact.
These changes apply per meter, not per kWh, so they affect all customers regardless of how much energy you use.
How Ruby Energy Can Help
We understand that changes to industry charges can create uncertainty, particularly when it comes to budgeting and long-term planning.
We will continue to monitor updates from the regulator and ensure our customers are kept informed as more detail becomes available.
If you would like to understand your current contract or discuss your plans for 2026, our team is here to help.
Key Dates to Watch
30th November 2025: Draft 2026/27 TNUoS Tariffs
- NESO will publish draft tariffs showing the expected standing charge increases for each meter band. This is your first look at the actual numbers.
31st January 2026: Final 2026/27 TNUoS Tariffs
- Final tariffs are locked in. This is the definitive standing charge rate you’ll pay from April 2026.
1st April 2026: New Tariffs Take Effect
- The 2026/27 TNUoS charges go live. If your contract runs past this date, your standing charges will increase from this date.