§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average household gas bill was in(a) England and (b) each English region in each financial year since 1996–97.[142273]
§ Mr. TimmsInformation on average gas bills is regularly published by my Department in "Quarterly Energy Prices", available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_prices/index.shtml. The available information is as follows:
Average annual domestic gas bills: England and Wales £ Standard credit Direct debit Prepayment 1998 315 277 331 1999 304 268 318 2000 295 264 311 2001 293 266 309 2002 310 281 327 20031 315 287 333 1 Provisional bills for 2003 cover consumption from Q4 2002 to Ql 2003 and are then grossed up to take account of Q2 2003 and Q3 2003.
Notes:
1. Figures for 1996 and 1997 are not available for England and Wales as the survey from which regional information is produced began in 1998.
2. Bills relate to total bill received in the year e.g. covering consumption from Q4 of the previous year to Q3 of the named year.
3. All bills are calculated using an annual consumption of 18,000 kWh. Figures are inclusive of VAT.
Regional annual average domestic gas bills (England and Wales) £ Region 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Standard credit West Midlands 317 312 297 296 313 319 South East 314 311 296 295 311 317 Wales 313 311 291 291 306 314 Eastern 318 311 296 291 309 316 Northern 315 312 290 292 312 314 Northwestern 314 311 295 294 309 316 London 318 311 295 293 309 316 North East 309 312 294 294 309 314 East Midlands 316 312 292 290 309 309 South West 312 312 299 290 312 319 Southern 316 312 299 297 311 318 Direct debit West Midlands 280 271 265 268 284 287 South East 276 269 262 270 279 286 Wales 278 266 265 249 283 291 Eastern 280 266 264 265 280 286 Northern 277 262 259 262 281 285 Northwestern 277 267 267 268 283 285 London 280 268 267 268 282 290 North East 271 268 263 268 282 280 East Midlands 278 266 261 264 281 285 SouthWest 275 268 265 261 281 288 Southern 278 270 265 267 280 290 Prepayment West Midlands 331 318 312 309 327 332 South East 331 317 311 309 327 331 Wales 330 325 311 310 329 352 Eastern 331 317 311 308 326 331 Northern 331 320 312 308 327 330 Northwestern 331 318 311 309 326 331 London 331 318 311 308 326 332 North East 331 319 312 309 327 330 East Midlands 331 316 312 309 326 330 South West 330 318 312 309 327 333 Southern 331 320 312 309 328 339 Note:
Regions quoted are Gas Local Distribution Zones
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