Energy giants forced to look at 'unfair' standing charges

ENERGY regulator Ofgem has defended its plan to make suppliers offer tariffs with lower standing charges.

- By Holly Williams

Firm will have to offer at least one with lower costs as soon as January. But proposals to remove the fixed price in household bills entirely were ditched.

Standing charges are applied daily, regardless of how much energy is used and covers the cost of supply to homes and businesses plus building network infrastructure.

Campaigners say they are unfair because everybody pays the same, meaning it makes up a higher proportion of bills for those who use less fuel.