Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has called for the energy standing charge to be slashed. The £300 charge is a compulsory payment for all customers, but the financial expert has now described the payment as "morally hazardous."
The Money Saving Expert noted that the higher the standing charge means lower users save "proportionally less and less by reducing usage". He added: "I have long campaigned for lower standing charges. MSE is submitting a consultation on this about shifting some of the cost the unit rates. He told the Sun newspaper: "The standing charge hits those who are careful about their energy use hardest – and these are often people from low-income households and prepayment meter customers. I know from conversations with prepayment customers that the standing charge can see them unknowingly build up debts over the warmer summer months.”