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Electricity: Standing Charges

Asked by Helen MaguireLiberal DemocratDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 9 July 2025UIN 64288

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to review standing charges on electricity bills for households on prepayment meters.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh

The Government knows that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges. We are committed to lowering the cost of standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue.

Ofgem have been considering how to ensure that consumers have a range of choices, including tariffs with no standing charges, available, including for prepayment meter customers. Ofgem launched a consultation on proposals to introduce zero standing charge tariffs which closed on 20 March. Ofgem will issue a response to this consultation in due course.

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