{"id":143662,"date":"2023-09-29T06:53:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T06:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritywshow.com\/?p=143662"},"modified":"2023-09-29T06:53:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T06:53:04","slug":"major-energy-supplier-to-slash-bills-after-martin-lewis-demanded-change-to-morally-hazardous-charge-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritywshow.com\/lifestyle\/major-energy-supplier-to-slash-bills-after-martin-lewis-demanded-change-to-morally-hazardous-charge-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Major energy supplier to slash bills after Martin Lewis demanded change to 'morally hazardous' charge | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
HARD-UP households will pay less for their energy bills this winter thanks to a \u00a340million support package.<\/p>\n
EDF will roll back standing charges to pre-energy crisis levels for its most vulnerable customers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A standing charge is a fixed amount that customers must pay on their energy bill regardless of how much gas and electricity they use.<\/p>\n
The daily standing charges on a household energy bill have increased by 107% and 8.2% on gas for a direct debit customer since April 2021.<\/p>\n
At the same time, current schemes like the warm home discount haven\u2019t increased since before the energy crisis, despite energy bills being almost double.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, EDF has now made a commitment to help struggling households by boosting its support for those in need by more than \u00a315million.<\/p>\n
Around \u00a37.5million will be spent directly on rolling back standing charges for at least 260,000 warm home discount customers to their pre-crisis level for the first quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n The financial support will be applied to eligible customers' accounts as a \u00a330 credit in December.<\/p>\n This means standing charges will effectively be an average of 56p instead of 87p per day, covering the period from January through to March.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n Additional funding will also be made available for its customer support fund, which provides debt relief and energy-efficient white goods to those in need.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The charges make up around \u00a3300 of most households' yearly energy bills.<\/p>\n Despite energy bills dropping by \u00a3426 a year at the start of July, the daily standing charges remained the same.<\/p>\n MoneySavingExpert and Martin Lewis have been campaigning for these charges to be lowered and Martin has previously described them as a "moral hazard".<\/p>\n Speaking in June, he said: "It is outrageous that people have to pay \u00a3300\/yr just for the facility of having gas and electricity even if they use none."<\/p>\n He added: "Keeping the standing charge high means lower users can save proportionately less and less by reducing usage – that disempowers them."<\/p>\n The current standard charges for a typical household are as follows:<\/p>\n But from October 1, Ofgem will introduce the following new rates:<\/p>\n Not every supplier will be doing the same so it is best to check with your provider if they are offering any extra support.<\/p>\n For example, Utilita Energy is one of the suppliers who have no standing charge and this means that you won't pay anything if you don't use any energy.<\/p>\n Octopus has also recently announced it is taking a stand in the battle against standing charges with a \u00a340m support package.<\/p>\n Dual fuel customers on Octopus's standard variable tariff will receive a 4% reduction in standing charges compared to Ofgem's price cap.<\/p>\n British Gas' website states that they do charge customers a standing charge which will be as per the rates above.<\/p>\n Ovo has joined calls for the overhaul of standing charges and confirmed that it will not be passing on the increase as of October 1.<\/p>\n There are other ways you can get help with your bills this winter.<\/p>\n A number of organisations are offering free cash to households that are struggling.<\/p>\n The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a pot of money that has been shared between local councils to help its most needy residents.<\/p>\n The cash can be issued as a direct payment or in the form of vouchers, and some councils may give help specifically with energy bills.<\/p>\n Each local council can decide its own eligibility criteria, but usually, help is handed out to those on a low income or benefits.<\/p>\n If you would like to know what you may be entitled to contact your local council.<\/p>\n If you are unsure who this is you can find out why using the government's council locator tool on the website.<\/p>\n Customers on traditional or smart prepayment meters can usually get help in the way of "emergency credit" if they have no money left on their meter.<\/p>\n Do bear in mind that this is not free money, and it will have to be paid back eventually.<\/p>\n A number of providers offer an emergency credit option, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.<\/p>\n But the amounts they offer differ, so you should contact yours to find out what you can get.<\/p>\n It might also be possible to get one-off top-up vouchers for your meter.<\/p>\n The help comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity and is offered through local organisations such as food banks and Citizens Advice.<\/p>\n Remember if you are struggling with your bills contact your supplier as soon as possible as they will be able to offer some advice.<\/p>\n<\/picture>ALDI FINDS <\/span><\/p>\n
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