HC Deb 26 May 1976 vol 912 cc271-2W
Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish for 1970, 1975 and currently what it costs to produce a kwh of electricity; and what proportion of the cost is represented by (1) fuel, (2) capital and (3) labour, respectively.

Mr. Benn

The average cost to the CEGB of producing one kwh of electricity was 0.5311p in the financial year 1969–70 and 1.0301p in the financal year 1974–75. Figures for 1975–76 are not yet available. The proportion of the cost attributable to fuel, capital and labour was as follows:

1969.70 1974.75
Per cent. Per cent.
(1) Fuel 43.9 55.3
(2) Capital 35.3 22.3
(3) Labour 11.2 9.9
(4) Other 9.6 12.5

Mr. John Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost to the electricity supply industry of a kilowatt of electricity produced from oil and a kilowatt produced by coal, on 1st January 1970, 1st January 1971, 1st January 1972, 1st January 1973, 1st January 1974, 1st January 1975, 1st January 1976, and at the latest available date.

Mr. Benn

I understand from the CEGB that for the financial years 1971–72—1974–75 the average generation costs of CEGB power stations commissioned in the last 12 years were as follows:

Cost of electricity generated from
Financial year Coal (p/kwh) Oil (p/kwh)
1970–71 Not available Not available
1971–72 0.43 0.39
1972–73 0.49 0.40
1973–74 0.53 0.55
1974–75* 0.74 0.88
* Latest figures available.

These costs include capital charges and repair and maintenance costs.

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