HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc247-9W
Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by what amount, and by what percentage, the

Table 2 Domestic fuel price increases in East Midlands area boards
Gas Electricity
Annual Consumption 400 therms 2,500 Kwh
Pence/Therm per cent. increase Pence/Kwh per cent. increase
Dec. 78—Dec. 79 1.5 7.8 0.58 18.2
Dec. 79—Dec. 80 5.7 28.0 1.02 26.9
Dec. 80—Dec. 81 8.1 31.2 0.55 11.3

Source: Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics

prices of gas and electricity, respectively, have risen during each of the past three years for which records are available.

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the percentage rise in gas prices in 1979, 1980 and 1981;

(2) what was the percentage rise in electricity prices during 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Mr. John Moore

National average domestic prices for gas and electricity are not available. Table 1 as follows shows the percentage increase in domestic gas and electricity prices based on the gas and electricity components of the general index of retail prices (RPI) from December to December for each of the past three years. Because of the method of recording the effects of tariff changes on the RPI, the full effects of individual price increases may not fall within the calendar year in which they became operative. The electricity component of the RPI for December 1981 contains an element for the domestic rebate of 0.34 p/Kwh for bills rendered during the period Jan-March 1982.

Table 2 shows the price and percentage increase for a representative annual consumption in the East Midlands area gas and electricity boards for tariffs in force in December of each year. Quarterly standing charges have been incorporated in the calculation. Percentage increases differ from annual average figures in Table 1 due to the timings of tariff amendments. The electricity rebate has not been included in the calculation.

Data on industrial fuel prices are based on a Department of Energy quarterly survey of some 900 large industrial consumers. Data for fourth quarter of 1981 are not available. The scope of the survey was increased in the third quarter of 1979 from 800 to 900 companies. The figures therefore for third quarter of 1978 are not strictly comparable with those for subsequent quarters.

Table 1 United Kingdom price increases for domestic gas and

electricity
percentage
Gas Electricity
Dec. 78—Dec. 79 8.0 19.2
Dec. 79—Dec. 80 26.0 29.8
Dec. 80—Dec. 81 25.9 4.6

Source: General index of retail prices

Table 3 Industrial fuel price increase
Gas Electricity
Pence/Therm per cent. increase Pence/Kwh per cent. increase
1978 Q3–1979 Q3 0.37 3.1 0.13 7.0
1979 Q3–1980 Q3 5.48 44.4 0.37 18.8
1980 Q3–1981 Q3 3.64 20.4 0.25 11.0

Source: Energy Trends