Campaigners will gather outside the House of Keys later this month to protest at Manx Gas’s standing changes.

The demonstration will take place on September 19 at 1pm - although there is no Keys sitting that day.

It has been promoted by a Facebook group entitled Manx Gas Standing Charges and Cost which was set up in May by Barry Murphy and now has more than 1,100 members.

Members have posted copies of their gas bills and expressed dismay at having to pay high standing charges despite having not had the heating on over summer.

Meanwhile, an e-petition calling for the Manx government to review Manx Gas’s standing order charge has been signed by hundreds of supporters.

Manx Gas introduced banded standing charges in January last year.

The unit cost of gas was reduced but the standing charge was increased, based on each home’s average consumption over five years.

In a statement Manx Gas said it is aware of concerns being aired on social media about the banded standing charge structure.

But it said customers worried about paying their bill should call their customer support team. It said: ’Please call us on 644444. One of our customer support team will be happy to help.

’We also want to stress that Manx Gas works in conjunction with local charities and agencies to help known vulnerable customers.’

Manx Gas insisted it the banded standing charges have not increased the revenue it receives but helps customers spread their energy cost over the year. ’For most customers, this means slightly higher bills in the summer, compared to previous years, but lower bills in the winter when the number of units consumed is higher,’ it said.

The Manx taxpayer funded a £23.5m project to connect 6,800 homes and businesses in the north, west and south of the island to natural gas via 47km of new pipeline. Conversion of those properties to natural gas began in 2012 with the promise of cheaper bills.