The Chancellor, John Healey, will cut household gas bills by up to £50 in Wednesday's Budget by scrapping standing charges, the Telegraph reported this evening. Reuters relayed the report and said it had not independently confirmed it. The Treasury has not confirmed the plan on the record.
This goes further than earlier reports. Until now, the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, had only been reported to have asked Healey and the Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, to look into removing standing charges from gas bills. Tonight's report is the first to say the change will be in the Budget itself.
No cost, funding source or start date has been reported. The figure of up to £50 has not been independently checked, and the report does not say over what period the saving would apply.
According to Reuters, the plan may also curb the Energy Secretary's power to impose net-zero levies on household bills. That detail is also unconfirmed.