§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the answer of 15 April, Official Report, column 30, he will provide the same information relating to comparative international energy prices on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe information requested which relates to the third quarter of 1984, is as follows:
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Average revenue from sales of gas to house-holds in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of electricity to households in pence per therm Average price of petrol in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of gas to industry in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of electricity to industry in pence per therm*† Average price of heavy fuel oil to industry in pence per therm France ‡(63.8) ‡║(174.08) 136.61 ‡(29.7) ‡║(78.84) 35.54 Germany ‡(55.7) 186.98 110.34 ‡(31.4) 104.33 35.22 Japan ‡(106.9) ‡(242.66) 140.10 ‡(75.5) ‡(184.05) 38.30 United Kingdom 46.5 156.79 123.17 26.3 78.84 38.25 United States of America 46.2 ¶180.24 74.75 ¶30.6 ¶117.81 35.38 * 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. † Date from alternative sources produces a different picture. For example, Electricity Council figures, converted to therms, 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/therm France 97.30 Germany 126.02—157.97 Japan 170.27—185.51 United Kingdom 106.09—116.64 United States of America 166.76—311.83 ‡ Average for 1983. ║ As of 1983 original ex-tax prices paid by industry and households are no longer available for France and the figures are based upon OECD estimates. ¶ Prices exclude taxes, which are levied by the states and which vary between 2 and 6 per cent. Note:
(1) It should be borne in mind that the calorific values of the fuels vary from country to country, United Kingdom conversion factors have been used for all the above.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) It should be noted that thermal efficiency varies according to fuel. The above figures take no account of this variation.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Energy, if, pursuant to the answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 108, he will provide the same information relating to domestic fuel prices on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.
May 1979 April 1983 May 1984 January 1985 Average price of gas (including standing charge) to domestic credit meter consumers in Great Britain using 400 therms per annum.Pence per therm 17.9 43.0 44.7 44.7 Average price of electricity (including standing charge) to consumers in England and Wales on the standard domestic tariff using 3,300kwh per annum.Pence per therm 93.52 173.62 176.63 176.63 Average price of standard grade burning oil. Pence per therm 28.42 62.59 53.83 61.22 It should be noted that thermal efficiency varies according to fuel. The figures take no account of this variation.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Energy, if, pursuant to the answer of 18 March, Official Report, column 400, he will provide the same information
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§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe information requested is given in the table:
relating to comparative international energy costs on a single unit basis, such as pence per therm, for all the fuels concerned.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe information requested is given in the table:
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Average revenue from sales of gas to households in pence per therm Average revenue from sales of electricity to households in pence per therm Average price of light heating oil to households in pence per therm 1979 Quarter 2 1984 Quarter 2 1979 Quarter 2 1984 Quarter 2 1979 Quarter 2 1984 Quarter 2 Canada 10.3 29.0 *(36.34) na 16.15 55.61 France *(38.0) ‡(63.8) *(130.12) ‡(172.91) 31.51 67.62 Germany *(32.8) †(55.6) 130.42 184.93 35.75 57.44 Italy 27.6 54.2 72.10 na 25.95 77.80 Netherlands ║ (21.0) 45.7 *(132.18) ‡(186.39) 30.71 62.92 Norway † — † — 43.08 84.11 28.86 68.67 United Kingdom 18.7 41.4 82.06 149.47 27.01 58.22 United States of America 14.2 41.7 63.60 153.57 22.24 59.53 * Average for 1979 † No consumption ‡ Average for 1983 ║ See Note (i) below Notes
(i) Except for gas prices in the Netherlands (which relate to an annual consumption of 3,000 cu. metres) 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) It should be borne in mind that the calorific values of the fuels vary from country to country. United Kingdom conversion factors have been used for all the above.
(iii) 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 in the second quarters of 1979 and 1984 respectively.
(iv) It should be noted that thermal efficiency varies according to fuel. The above figures take no account of this variation.
na = not available.