{
  "id": 15895801,
  "title": "Healey weighs removing standing charges on gas bills",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/healey-weighs-removing-standing-charges-on-gas-bills",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-21T13:48:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/healey-weighs-removing-standing-charges-on-gas-bills/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Andy Burnham has instructed Chancellor John Healey and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to investigate the possibility of eliminating standing charges from gas bills as part of the government's initiative to reduce household energy expenses. Standing charges, which are fixed daily fees on energy bills and do not fluctuate based on usage, currently average around 30p per day, or £103.32 annually. These charges contribute to infrastructure maintenance and operational expenses, with Ofgem setting a regional cap due to varying gas supply costs.\n\nBurnham disclosed his directive to the House of Commons, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the financial burden on British households. His remarks followed the government's approval of further gas drilling at Jackdaw, which could supply up to six percent of the country's gas by the end of the month. The Prime Minister reaffirmed his party's pledge not to grant new licences for oil and gas drilling.\n\nIn a separate development, Capital Economics' Neil Shearing noted that the Jackdaw gas drilling site would likely have a minimal impact on the UK economy, although it may enhance exports and energy security. However, he suggested that a more substantial change might necessitate a shift in the government's position on new oil and gas licenses. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch pressed the Prime Minister to disclose whether he intended to reduce welfare spending, to which Burnham responded by expressing his disapproval of young individuals facing unemployment and unemployment-related benefits. He urged the public to await the Budget for a detailed outline of the government's future economic strategies.",
  "summary": "Chancellor John Healey is looking at cutting standing charges on gas bills as part of the government’s push to cut household energy costs, the Prime Minister has announced. Speaking in the House of Commons today, Andy Burnham said he had asked the Chancellor and the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, to consider stripping “unfair” standing charges [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Chancellor John Healey tasked with investigating removal of standing charges on gas bills.",
    "Standing charges average 30p per day, £103.32 annually.",
    "Prime Minister Andy Burnham committed to reducing household energy expenses."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Targeting fixed daily fees signals a shift toward prioritizing immediate household relief over the traditional funding models used to maintain essential national energy infrastructure.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}