HC Deb 08 July 1975 vol 895 cc137-8W
Mr. Mike Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the percentage increases, including all announced increases, since 1st March 1974 in domestic electricity and gas prices, respectively, for repayment and, credit customers, respectively;

(2) what is the average cost, including all announced increases, to the domestic prepayment and credit customer, respectively, of a unit of electricity and a therm of gas, respectively; and what were the respective figures for 1st March 1974;

(3) what is the average cost, including all announced increases, of a unit of electricity and a therm of gas, respectively, to industrial and domestic consumers, respectively; and what were the respective figures for March 1974;

(4) what are the percentage increases in the price 'of electricity, coal and gas, respectively, to industrial and domestic consumers, respectively, since 1st March 1974, including all announced increases.

Mr. Benn

Because the average revenue per therm of gas or unit of electricity sold varies with consumption and consumption varies with the time of year, there is strictly speaking no such thing as an electricity or gas price at a given date. Attempts at comparisons between different points of time in the year can, therefore, be misleading. The industries have, however, made the following illustrative figures available:

ELECTRICITY (England and Wales)
Average price* p/unit
Consumption in Domestic tariffs† Industrial tariffs
March 1974 1.03 0.99
June 1975 (expected price) 1.92 1.47
Percentage increase 86% 48%
* Including fuel cost adjustment.
† Separate figures for prepayment and credit consumers are not available.

Coal prices have increased since 1st March 1974 by an average of 133 per cent. for industrial consumers and 56 per cent. for coal merchants, excluding the present summer discount.

GAS
Average revenues per therm from tariff sales were:
Domestic Industrial
March 1974 … 10.75p 9.06p
March 1975 (estimated) … 11.74p 11.00p
Increase … 9.3% 21.4%

The "industrial" figures above are exclusive of sales under long-term contracts for large supplies, in many cases on interruptible terms. Renewal prices for these are currently in a range of 8p to 12p per therm, depending on the terms of supply.

Increases in gas prices as between prepayment and credit customers are not available.