§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the price per comparable unit of account of coal, gas, heating oil and motor spirit, respectively, in each of the member States of the EEC; and what is the price of electricity to industrial and domestic consumers, respectively, per comparable unit of account, in each of the member States of the EEC.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MahonThe following table sets out the latest available information. Prices for each fuel are comparable in time but the dates vary as between different fuels Differing national consumption patterns, wide variations in prices that can occur within countries and fluctuating exchange rates all contribute to the difficulty of comparing prices internationally Comparisons are especially difficult in times of rapidly rising prices.
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SELECTED FUEL PRICES IN THE EEC Natural Gas Domestic Premium Electricity Coal(1) Domestic(2) Industrial(3) Heating oil (5) Motor Spirit(6) Domestic(7) Industrial(8) Industrial(9) £per ton pence per therm pence for gallon pence per kwh Belgium … 35.9–49.2 22.5 14.7 36.5 117 2.40 2.79 2.09 Denmark … .. .. .. 38.9 112 1.67 1.85–2.05 1.66–1.81 Irish Republic … .. .. .. .. .. 1.57–1.64 1.89 1.66 Federal Republic of Germany … 35.1–47.6 22.5–29.3 16.3–21.2(4) 34.7 102 2.05–2.53 2.76–3.17 2.04–2.54 France … 27.2 24.7–26.7 16.5–17.8 41.4 123 1.83 1.74–1.90 1.48–1.60 Italy … .. 9.0–17.8 6.7–16.8 39.6 149 .. 1.66 1.46 Luxembourg … .. .. .. .. .. 1.75 1.95 1.56 Netherlands … .. 14.6 12.4 37.9 117 1.92–2.61 1.80–2.48 1.57–2.13 United Kingdom … 221.3–291.4 131.4–151.1 141.8–141.9 37–6 84 11.36–11.87 11.62–21.73 11.40–21.38 .. = Not available. National currencies have been converted at the exchange rate current on the appropriate date. (1) Pit head prices for industrial coal, 1st September 1976, not including value added taxes. (2) Domestic consumers of 800 therms a year, July 1976, excluding taxes. (3) Industrial tariff consumers of 40,000 therms a year, July 1976, excluding taxes. (4) Based on consumption of 10,000 therms a year; special contracts apply above this level, July 1976. (5) 15th April 1977. (6) Typical pump prices, 15th April 1977, including taxes. (7) Annual consumption of 12,000 kWh of which 9,000 kWh at night; representative of an all electric household, August 1976, excluding taxes. (8) Annual maximum demand of 500 kW at 40 per cent load factor representative of a single shift working industry, August 1976, not including value added taxes. (9) Annual maximum demand of 2,500 kW at 60 per cent load factor representative of a two shift working industry, August 1976, not including value added taxes.