The UK chancellor, John Healey, announces plans to scrap standing charges on household gas bills, with changes due to take effect next year. Several outlets report the move is part of his first Budget and is intended to reduce costs for households by removing a fixed daily fee charged regardless of usage.
Outlets across the political spectrum describe standing charges as a fixed daily element added to bills, typically worth around £108 a year for a typical household. Coverage also highlights that the Treasury says the policy will reduce costs for most households, with one frequently repeated figure that many households would save about £45 a year. Some reports add context on how the charge works and why it is controversial, including comparisons to an “energy poll tax” and discussion of how the change could affect households that use little gas.
A few outlets provide added policy detail beyond the basic announcement, including that Healey plans to ask Ofgem to end the practice in 2027 and potentially move the cost into unit energy rates. Some business- and politics-focused coverage also frames the measure as part of the wider budget outlook and cost-of-living debate, including criticism from Green Party voices.
