Ofgem, the UK energy regulator, said today that it has launched a review into energy standing charges.
The regulator wants to investigate how standing charges are added onto electricity and gas bills.
The charge is a maintenance cost that is added to bills every day regardless of whether or not energy is consumed.
Without the standing charge, suppliers would likely need to cover the cost of maintenance themselves, which could mean raising energy prices.
It is designed to cover the cost of maintaining the energy network, taking meter readings and supporting government social and environmental schemes.
These costs vary across England, Scotland and Wales, and the charge is included in the energy price cap that the regulator reviews every three months.
Some suppliers offer a tariff that operates in a similar way to a standing charge, where customers pay a bit more for the first one or two units of energy used.
Ofgem launched the consultation today, which will run until 19 January, and has released a discussion paper on standing charges for review.
The regulator said the consultation will help inform policy-making, and that it will continue to work with government, the energy sector, consumer groups and other stakeholders.