Mr. DavidHowell asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he will publish the latest available comparisons of industrial contract gas prices for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France;
31W(2) whether he will publish the latest available comparisons of industrial electricity prices for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France;
(3) whether he will publish the latest available comparisons of domestic natural gas prices for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France;
(4) whether he will publish the latest available comparisons of domestic electricity prices for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France;
Average revenue from sales of gas to house holds in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of gas electricity to households in pence per kwh Average Price of petrol in pence per litre Average revenue from sales of gas to industry in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of electricity to industry in pence per kwh*† Average price of heavy fuel oil to industry in £s per tonne France ‡(63.8) ‡║(5.94) 45.03 ‡(29.7) ‡║(2.69) 144.29 Germany ‡ (55.7) 6.38 36.37 ‡(31.4) 3.56 143.01 Japan ‡(106.9) ‡(8.28) 46.18 ‡ (75.5) ‡ (6.28) 155.49 United Kingdom 46.5 5.35 40.60 26.3 2.69 155.30 United States of America 46.2 ¶16.15 24.64 ¶30.6 ¶4.02 143.65 Source: OECD. * It should be borne in mind when interpreting these figures that industrial electricity prices generally vary according to time of year, because of the seasonal element present in most industrial tariffs. Hence a different picture might be obtained for a different time of year, depending on how the seasonal components in the individual country tariffs operated. ‡Data from alternative sources produces a different picture. For example, Electricity Council figures show that as at 1 August 1984 for industrial consumers with an annual maximum demand of 2,500 kw at 40 per cent. load factor, average prices paid were:
p/kwh France 3.32 Germany 4.30–5.39 Japan 5.81–6.33 United Kingdom 3.62–3.98 USA 5.69–10.64 ‡ Average for 1983. ║As of 1983 original ex-tax prices paid by industry and households are no longer available for France and these figures are OECD estimates. ¶ Prices exclude taxes, which are levied by the states and which vary between 2 and 6 per cent. Note:(i) The prices shown above for gas and electricity are based on average revenue per unit consumed. In general this will differ from the price derived for a given level of annual consumption.
(ii) International comparisons of energy prices are difficult to construct because of incompatibilities in the basic data. They require careful interpretation because of movements in exchange rates and variation in the timing of tariff revisions between countries. The above figures are based on exchange rates prevailing for the year 1983 and the third quarter 1984 as appropriate.