BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty grills Tory MP over standing energy charge rise
BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty cornered a Tory MP on the morning programme over the standing energy charge rise as families struggle to pay their bills.
Minister for Nuclear and Networks Andrew Bowie appeared on the show to discuss the incredibly high profits reported by energy companies as bills are rising for the public. During Friday's show host Naga fired into the MP during the interview after it was announced the price cap is falling from £2,074 a year to £1,923 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit.
Naga cut in: "My job is to ask questions on behalf of our viewers and to try to elicit an answer. I know many people are confused and upset about the standing charge as it is. Paying for energy when some people just simply turn the meters off. They turn the supply off because they can't afford to pay. Yet they have to pay this fix charge for infrastructure. The standing charge for gas and electricity has gone up, so I would like to ask you on behalf of those viewers who are struggling, whether or not you think it is right that these standing charges have risen?"
Naga grilled Andrew Bowie about the energy standing charge (BBC)"I think what we need to focus on today is the fact that people's average energy bills are coming down. People will be paying less now than they have been for their energy bills over all. That's an incredibly positive thing. The standing charge as it is is a matter for Ofgem. It's not something the government will be discussing and indeed the future of energy markets in the United Kingdom is something that we are reviewing. But today is a positive day, the price cap has come down and I think that's what we should be focussing on. People will be paying less for their energy bill than they have been for quite a considerable period of time."
Naga asked: "Which will be offset by the rise in the standing charge?" Andrew replied: "No it won't be offset by the rise in standing charge," but Naga interjected: "Yes it will because the standing charge is going up." Andrew added: "No Naga. Energy bills were coming down on average by around £518 from its peak. That is in no way going to be offset by the very slight rise in the standing charge."
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Viewers praised Naga for the interview on social media, as one wrote: "Well done Naga." Another added: "Andrew Bowie flatly refused to answer Naga's question directly." Someone else commented: "He literally goes on air and says 'you should be painting this in a positive light' even when Naga points out that the increase in standing charge will offset the reduction in unit price in many cases." "Well done Naga, you had him on toast," added a fourth.
Good Morning Britain's Adil Ray also grilled Ofgem's Chief Executive Jonathan Brearley about the incredibly high profits reported by energy companies on Friday. The presenter said: "Some people who definitely have got nothing to worry about when it comes to energy bills are the bosses of the energy companies. Can you explain something to me and I'm absolutely baffled. I've tried to read up on this. We've discussed it here on the show this morning.
"I cannot work out why energy companies like British Gas have reported profits of £969million pounds after the price cap rise. It has been reported that half that profit £500million was due to changes to the price cap made by the energy regulator. In comparison, British Gas reported a profit of £98million pounds in the same period last year. People are watching at home this morning, and we're arguing about £150 pounds here, the saving they might make, it just sort of disappears into comparison when you think about these extortionate profits energy companies are making."
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