Ofgem has chosen not to reduce the standing charge, leaving many energy customers frustrated and concerned about their bills
South Wales: So, Ofgem has decided not to lower the standing charge. This charge is what energy customers pay no matter how much energy they actually use. For folks in South Wales, that means they’re still shelling out around £350 a year.
Peter Smith, who’s the director of policy and advocacy at National Energy Action, shared that there’s a lot of public worry about these high standing charges. He mentioned that tons of people and organizations spoke up during Ofgem’s consultation, asking for changes.
It’s not just the public; all the major political parties promised to tackle this issue in their manifestos. So, the fact that nothing significant has changed is pretty disappointing for many.
People using prepayment meters are hit the hardest. When their credit runs out, those standing charges just pile up as debt on the meter. They can’t get any energy until that debt is cleared, which leaves them in a tough spot.
Smith pointed out that the higher these charges are, the longer families are stuck without energy. It’s a real struggle for many households, and it’s frustrating to see no action taken.