§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the standing charges per year on gas and electricity in domestic properties five years ago: and what they are today.
§ Mr. MellorIn November 1977 the average quarterly standing charge on normal domestic tariffs for quarterly-billed electricity consumers in England and Wales was £2.69, (£10.76 per annum). The present comparable figure is £6.82 (£27.28 per annum).
Comparison of the gas figures between the earlier and later years is significantly affected by the existence between April 1977 and April 1981 of a three-part tariff for domestic credit consumers under which the first 52 therms consumed in any quarter were charged at a higher rate than subsequent therms. In order to produce comparable figures the amount of the standing charge element has been adjusted to take account of this effect in the November 1977 figure shown as follows using the same basis as the 1979 Price Commission report.
Gas—General Zone Comsumers; Domestic Credit Tariff Standing Charge Element Quarterly Per annum £ £ November 1977 5.90 23.60 November 1982 9.90 39.60