HARD-PRESSED households must be helped with their bills by lowering gas and electric standing charges costing around £300 a year, Ministers say.
Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho has written to regulator Ofgem demanding a lower rate to the daily fixed charge.
The average standing charge cap is 53p per day for electricity and 30p for gas – whether or not homes use the utility that day.
The call from the government comes as the watchdog considers changes to the levy and alternatives after input from charities and consumer groups.
In a letter, Ms Coutinho says: “There is more to do to tackle the issue of standing charges rising significantly.
“At a time when energy bills are still higher than before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is crucial that customers’ bills and standing charges are kept as low as possible”.
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