Petition · past parliament
Make it illegal for energy companies to levy a standing charge for smart meters.
Closed
121 signatures
What the petition asks
Upon leaving my gas meter inactive for three months as I waited for my landlord to sort out the safety inspection (and not needing heating in the meantime) I was surprised to find that I was in arrears by approximately £26 Pounds due to British Gas charging a daily fee of £0.278 regardless of usage.
Upon further investigation I found out that the "Big Six" energy companies charge over £100 per year before your top ups actually allow you to have hot water and heat your house using gas. This means that vulnerable people will experience fuel poverty even if they conserve gas by not using it. After just £5 Pounds of arrears, the meter turns off. In 2015, 9000 British people died from cold homes according to University College London. Making this "no use tax" illegal will therefore save lives.
Timeline
| 1 Nov 2017 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 1 May 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
121
Status
Closed
Opened
1 Nov 2017
Closed
1 May 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.