ENERGY companies are to increase the standing charges of millions of customers next month, campaigners warned today.

The charges, fixed daily rates on top of consumption, are rising from £303 to £334 per year — 147 per cent higher than in 2021 — and will partially offset Ofgem’s energy “price cap” introduced by the regulator on April 1.

The standing charge for gas will increase by 13 per cent and electricity by 6 per cent — both well over current inflation, which stands at 3.4 per cent.