Martin Lewis to MPs: “We were promised low Standing Charge energy tariffs. Where are they?”

Standing Charges – which you pay just for the facility of having gas and electricity, even if you don't use any – currently make up around £315 of the average annual energy bill. Martin and MSE have long called for these charges to be lowered, as they penalise lower-use households and those looking to cut their usage.

Martin reiterated this ask to the committee, explaining that Standing Charges are "by far and away the thing that drives people mad the most". He added that two-thirds of complaints he gets on energy are related to these charges.