Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment has she made of the impact of standing charges in Wales on levels of poverty in Wales.

The Government knows that, for many consumers, too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges. We are committed to lowering the cost of standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue. Ofgem is considering how costs could be recovered in fairer ways, while protecting vulnerable consumers with higher unavoidable energy use, this includes consideration of gas standing charges.

The Government has acted to reduce an increase in electricity standing charges from April 2026 by moving Warm Home Discount cost recovery from standing charges to unit rates. Around 6 million households in Great Britain will benefit from the expanded £150 Warm Home Discount, which will remain in place for the rest of the decade. As well as wider action to reduce bills, including removing VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October to 31 March and taking an average £150 of costs off bills, which applies across Great Britain, including Wales.