HC Deb 20 March 2001 vol 365 cc178-9W
Mr. Hilary Benn

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the average annual domestic bills for(a) electricity and (b) gas in the UK for the year 2000 broken down by (i) direct debit, (ii) standard quarterly credit and (iii) pre-payment meter payment methods. [154506]

Mr. Hain

Average annual domestic bills1 for (a) electricity and (b) gas in cash terms for the year 2000 are as follows:

1 Averages are weighted by customer numbers and based on all supply companies.
£
Payment method Electricity1 Gas2
Quarterly Credit 256 295
Direct Debit 244 265
Prepayment meter 274 311
1 An annual consumption level of 3,300 kWh has been assumed. Customers with electric central heating are likely to consume considerably more electricity.
2An annual consumption level of 18,000 kWh has been assumed.

Annual figures for previous years are published in the Department's annual "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" and in the "Energy Report".