HC Deb 23 June 1997 vol 296 cc411-2W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much the price of a unit of electric power has increased in cash and percentage terms in each of the last five years; and what factors have contributed to this increase, separately identifying those relating to the non-fossil fuels obligation. [4072]

Mr. Ingram

The prices charged under Northern Ireland's tariff in each of the last five years, and the year by year increases are given in the following table:

Northern Ireland electricity tariff charges
Year p/kWh1 Percentage increase/decrease Percentage of which due to NFFO
1992–93 6.827
1993–94 7.238 +6.02
1994–95 7.050 -2.60 +0.13

Wind Hydro
Year GWh p/Kwh1 GWh p/kWh1 Other non-fossil fuel sources GWh p/kWh1 Total GWh
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95 13.496 6.507 0.139 7.098 13.635
1995–96 65.252 6.546 0.662 7.036 65.914
1996–97 80.815 6.553 2.322 6.851 83.137
1Average unit price.

The total paid by Northern Ireland Electricity for non-fossil fuel energy from each source in each of the last five years is given in the following table:

Year Wind £ Hydro £ Other non-fossil fuel sources Total £
1992–93
1993–94
1994–95 878,214 9,859 880,073
1995–96 4,271,420 46,592 4,318,012
1996–97 5,295,819 159,049 5,454,868

All the electrical energy generated by the renewable energy sources shown above was transmitted to customers via the electricity grid.

Mr. Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the formula used to determine the price paid for electrical power under the non-fossil fuel obligation contracts awarded under each tranche of contracts indicating the figures used in the calculations. [4067]

Mr. Ingram

Non-fossil fuel obligaton contracts are awarded to developers after an open competition on the basis of lowest priced bids within each renewable

Northern Ireland electricity tariff charges
Year p/kWh1 Percentage increase/decrease Percentage of which due to NFFO
1995–96 7.370 +4.54 +0.61
1996–97 7.517 +1.99 +0.74
1Average unit cost based on sales.

There were a number of factors which contributed to these increases, including the cost of coal and fuel oil on the international markets, the effects of general inflationary pressures and, to a less significant degree, the increase in the level of renewable energy production.

Mr. Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much electrical power has been generated by(a) wind, (b) water and (c) other non-fossil fuel sources in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what was the price (i) per unit and (ii) in total paid by Northern Ireland Electricity for such energy from each source in each of these years; and how much of the electrical power generated by each source in each year was transmitted to customers via the electricity grid. [4070]

Mr. Ingram

The amount of electrical power which has been generated by non-fossil fuel sources in Northern Ireland during the last five years and the price paid per unit by Northern Ireland Electricity is given in the following table.

technology band. Bid prices are expected to reduce in each succeeding NFFO competition towards the prices prices paid to fossil fuel generators.