HC Deb 08 December 1999 vol 340 cc568-9W
Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average decrease per household in the price of(a) electricity and (b) gas since privatisation expressed in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms. [101499]

Mrs. Liddell

(a) Average annual domestic electricity bills are estimated to have fallen by £59 in real terms (at 1999 prices) between 1990 and 1999, representing a fall of 18 per cent.

(b) Average annual domestic gas bills are estimated to have fallen by £138 in real terms (at 1999 prices) between 1986 and 1999, representing a fall of 31 per cent.

More detailed figures relating to average annual domestic electricity and gas bills are presented in the tables.

Average domestic annual standard electricity bill1
19902 (£) 19933 (£) Change (£) Percentage change
Real terms4 324 265 59 decrease 18 decrease
Cash terms 245 265 19 increase 8 increase
1 Average UK domestic electricity bill (including VAT) for customers on Standard Credit terms consuming 3,300 kWh. The majority of customers are on these payment terms. Other payment methods currently available are direct debit, and pre-payment.
2 Privatisation of the electricity supply industry for the domestic market took place in 1990.
3 1999 figures are provisional estimates.
4 Real 1999 terms calculated using the GDP (market prices) deflator. The 1999 deflator is estimated based on data for the first three quarters.

Average domestic annual standard gas bill1
19862 (£) 19933 (£) Change (£) Percentage change
Real terms4 443 305 138 decrease 31 decrease
Cash terms 261 305 56 increase 17 increase
1 Average GB domestic gas bill (including VAT) for customers on Standard Credit terms consuming 18,000 kWh. The majority of customers are on these payment terms. Other payment methods currently available are direct debit, and pre-payment.
2 Privatisation of the gas supply industry for the domestic market took place in 1986.
3 1999 figures are provisional estimates.
4 Real 1999 terms calculated using the GDP (market prices) deflator. The 1999 deflator is estimated based on data for the first three quarters.

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