UK chancellor Healey says he will scrap gas standing charges for 23m homes
Briefing by News4U · First published
Chancellor John Healey said he will ask Ofgem to scrap household gas standing charges, calling them unfair and outdated; Guardian stamp Wed 28 Oct 2026 03.32 EDT, i.e. seven-thirty-two UTC on 28 Oct 2026. The Treasury said 60% of account-holding households could save an average of £45 a year.
UK Chancellor John Healey said he will ask Ofgem to remove standing charges from household gas bills for 23m homes, calling the fixed fee unfair and outdated. Guardian stamp Wed 28 Oct 2026 03.32 EDT, i.e. seven-thirty-two UTC on 28 Oct 2026, ahead of his first budget. [1]
Healey said: "Gas standing charges are unfair and outdated so I am scrapping them to give millions of households a bit of breathing space." He also said his budget will "draw a line in the sand on an energy policy that has failed British billpayers for years." Standing charges are £108 a year for the typical household, and he will ask Ofgem to remove them in 2027 or soon after. [1]
The Treasury said the move could save 60% of account-holding households an average of £45 off their annual bill. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said abolishing gas standing charges is about "basic fairness and giving people more control over their bills." [1]
Sources
- John Healey to end standing charges on gas bills for 23m homes
The Guardian · · Full text