§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average cost of electricity per domestic household in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe figures below refer to the average expenditure on electricity—including any hire and maintenance of electrical appliances—per domestic household. Expenditure expressed in average 1967 money values 187W is also shown and is obtained by using the general index of retail prices as a deflator.
AVERAGE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE PER HOUSEHOLD Actual expenditure Adjusted to average 1967 money values £ £ 1967 29.2 29.2 1968 33.1 31.6 1969 36.0 32.6 1970 37.0 31.5 1971 40.6 31.6 1972 46.3 33.6 1973 49.4 32.9 1974 55.6 31.9 1975 74.9 34.6 1976 92.0 36.5 1977 107.1 36.7 Source: Family expenditure survey—annual reports 1967–1977.
§ Mr. Richard Shepherdasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average cost per unit of electricity produced with nuclear energy, oil and coal, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of how these costs will compare in five and 10 years' time, respectively.
§ Mr. Norman LamontGeneration costs in p/kwh in 1977–78 at CEGB stations commissioned in the previous 12 years were as follows: Magnox nuclear, 0.76; coal-fired, 1.23; oil-fired, 1.42. Because of limited experience of AGR nuclear stations, their costs have not been included. The quoted figures include: capital charges, based on historic cost depreciation; fuel, including nuclear re-processing; and other operating costs, including provision for decommissioning.
It is not possible to quote forecast figures for five and 10 years ahead on a basis comparable to that of the foregoing actual figures, partly because of the uncertainty in movements in real costs of the various fuels and other elements of total cost, and partly because of the effect of any assumed rate of inflation on the balance between historic capital and other costs.
Electricity generation in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.