HC Deb 07 March 1977 vol 927 cc412-6W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a comparison of electricity prices and gas prices in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Italy, respectively, for domestic consumption, indicating the percentage VAT and whether a standing charge and fuel cost adjustment are included in the price; and what is the amount of the standing charge.

Dr. J. Dickson Mabon

The latest available information is tabulated below. Prices have been converted using exchange rates current at the time of the quoted prices. I regret that details of standing charges are available only for the United Kingdom, where all electricity boards make a standing charge or its equivalent—that is, standing costs are recovered by higher-priced initial blocks of units. The average quarterly amounts are £2.46 on the standard domestic tariffs and £3.71 on the day/night tariffs. There is no day/night tariff in Northern Ireland. For gas, the standing charges, in Great Britain only, are between zero and £5.50 a quarter, depending on area and tariff.

NATURAL GAS PRICES: DOMESTIC CONSUMERS
January 1976
(pence per therm)
Approximate consumption per annum in Therms
80 160 800 1,200 Vat (include in prices) (per cent.)
United Kingdom … … … … … … … 20.4—27.5 18.9—24.7 15.0—19.2 13.4—15.1 0
Netherlands … … … … … … … 25.7 20.6 13.6 12.9 4
Federal Republic of Germany … … … … … … … 41.5—61.6 34.4—47.7 21.7—28.3 19.9—26.1 11
France … … … … … … … 47.9—65.1 40.2—46.7 23.7—26.8 20.4—24.8 17.6
Italy … … … … … … … 17.6—41.8 12.9—41.0 9.5—17.7 8.9—16.3 6
Source: Inquiry into consumer prices for gas by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. (Due to be published shortly.)

ELECTRICITY PRICES: DOMESTIC CONSUMERS
August 1976
pence per kWh*
Standard Tariff Day/Night Tariff
Annual consumption (of which, at night) 500 kWh 3,300 kWh 7,500 kWh 3,000 kWh (1,500 kWh) 7,500 kWh (5,000 kWh) 12,000 kWh (9,000 kWh) VAT (included in prices) (per cent.)
United Kingdom … … … 3.70†—5.05‡ 2.30ߤ—3.01‡ 2.12†—2.81‡ 1.98†—2.53‡ 1.52†—2.04‡ 1.36†—1 87‡ 0
Netherlands‡ … … … 5.26—7.21 3.11—4.60 2.84—4.43 2.88—3.90 2.38—3.27 2.23—3.03 16
Federal Republic of Gcrmany† … … … 7.72—10.14 3.70—4.61 2.85—3.55 3.47—4.37 2.65—3.20 2.28—2.81 11
France‡§ … … … 6.79 3.40 3.00 3.50 2.34 2.15 17.6
Italy‡ … … … 1.75—1.79 3.04—3.08 2.97—3.01 .. .. .. 6
* Including standing charges.
† No fuel cost adjustment applicable. (In the United Kingdom only the Scottish boards do not have a fuel cost adjustment.)
‡ Fuel cost adjustment included.
§; Prices do not include local and departmental taxes, which on average add about 6 per cent. to total bills.
.. Not available.

Source"A comparison of Electricity Prices in the Countries of European Community". Issue No. 5. Report by the Electricity Council.