Energy
Energy standing charges.
Your MP can call for a review of the mechanism.
Under the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026, a typical dual-fuel household pays around £308 a year in standing charges -- before consuming a single unit of energy.
Ofgem Q4 2026 price cap
Standing charges account for around 18% of a typical dual-fuel energy bill, and up to 32% of the electricity bill for the lowest-consumption households. Those households are disproportionately lower income: they ration consumption to manage costs, so the fixed charge takes a proportionally larger share of what they spend.
In June 2026, Ofgem launched a pilot requiring four major suppliers to offer tariffs with lower standing charges alongside higher unit rates. Ofgem itself acknowledged the pilot may not reduce overall bills. The underlying standing charge mechanism for all customers on standard tariffs is unchanged. Your MP can press the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on whether the current structure is consistent with fuel poverty objectives and call for an independent review of the mechanism.
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