In a nutshell, a standing offer is a type of offer all energy retailers are legally obliged to make available to customers. It’s usually more expensive than a market offer.

Standing offers vs market offers

You may be on a standing offer if:

Your market offer has expired
If your contract expires and you don’t move to a new market offer, you may be moved onto a standing offer. The process varies between different retailers.
You’ve never taken up a market offer
If you haven’t changed energy retailers since the market was deregulated, you’ll still be on a standing offer.
You’ve moved into a new property
It’s becoming more common for people to use a moving services company to sort out all their connections. These companies may sign you up to a standing offer.
You’ve asked for one
It’s not common, but for some people, a standing offer is a better option for their circumstances.