Industry bosses and experts are calling for standing charges to be reduced, accusing them of being far too high.
It comes after the boss of British Gas owner Centrica said the system actively punishes those who try to drive down their energy bills by reducing how much gas and electricity they use. The standing charge is a fixed amount that people pay on their energy bill and does not change based on a household's usage.
Similarly, money-saving expert Martin Lewis labelled the current standing charge of £300 a year a 'moral hazard' and has called for it to be reduced. Standing charges are used to pay for a variety of things such as the upkeep of the electricity and gas grids, but critics say the system is unfair and gives people less control over their energy bills.
