news.today
Hello · Register today | LoginHello · My Account[—] [32]
UK

Burnham asks ministers to examine scrapping gas standing charges

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 09:59 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has asked Chancellor John Healey and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to examine whether standing charges on gas bills could be removed. He told MPs he wanted them to report back to the House of Commons 'at the earliest opportunity', raising the prospect of a change to how households pay for their gas.

Standing charges are a fixed daily fee that households pay for being connected to the gas network, regardless of how much energy they use. They can make up a significant part of bills, particularly for people who use very little gas.

Removing standing charges could help some households, although the impact would depend on how the costs currently covered by standing charges were dealt with under any new arrangements.

The announcement came during Prime Minister's Questions, when Mr Burnham was challenged over the Government's decision to approve the Jackdaw gas field. Explaining this decision, he said the previous Conservative government had 'messed up' the process. He told MPs the Government had made a pragmatic decision that would allow it to help fund the transition to renewable energy while also creating opportunities to reduce household energy costs.

Burnham asks ministers to examine scrapping gas standing charges
Image: Cumberland News

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

In this story: Andy Burnham · John Healey · Miatta Fahnbulleh · Jackdaw

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem