The energy firm has said it is to align its standing charge across payment types and products in order to ‘help consumers better understand and more easily compare tariffs’.

Customers will be offered a single standing charge per fuel on all new products that are launched from today.

British Gas said that by the end of August, it will have completed the process for all but one of its current products and will have one standing charge by the end of 2013.

Ian Peters, managing director of residential energy at British Gas, said: “The changes to our standing charges are part of continued improvements to the way we sell energy to our customers.

“British Gas customers can also be confident they are on the right deal as British Gas is the only supplier to contact customers every six months with a personalised ‘Tariff Check’ helping them save money and move to a different tariff if it’s cheaper for them.”

This follows the recent unveiling of Ofgem’s new reforms which aim to make the energy market simpler, clearer and fairer for consumers.

The new rules are set to tackle problems of widespread consumer confusion over energy tariffs, poor supplier behaviour and lack of transparency which the watchdog says is stifling competition.

Among the key changes, suppliers will only be allowed four “core” tariffs, price increases to fixed term tariffs will be banned and all information sent to consumers will be simplified, more engaging and personalised to them.