Edinburgh West MP welcomes scrapping of gas standing charges
Christine Jardine MP has welcomed the Government’s confirmation that it will remove standing charges from gas bills. The move is one which Ms Jardine has been advocating for several years.
The Prime Minister confirmed at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 21 October that the Government would remove gas standing charges, following discussions with the Chancellor and Energy Secretary.
Standing charges are paid by households regardless of how much gas they use, meaning people can still face significant costs even when they are trying to reduce their energy consumption.
Christine Jardine MP said: “Families across Edinburgh West are continuing to feel the pressure of the cost of living, and energy bills remain a significant concern for many households.
“Standing charges are a particular challenge for those on prepaid cards, as those charges are often taken first, leaving little to pay for energy.
“That is why I welcome the Government’s decision to remove standing charges from gas bills. People should not feel they are being penalised simply for being connected to the gas network, particularly when they are already doing everything they can to keep their bills down.”