§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current price levels for electricity supplied to domestic customers are, broken down by supplier; and what the average electricity bill was for each region in the last year for which figures are available. [157901]
§ Mr. TimmsCurrent price levels for domestic electricity supply by supplier are dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the tariff which the customer has chosen; whether the customer is with their home supplier or has switched; how the customer chooses to make their payments (direct debit is usually cheaper than both standard credit and prepayment meter options); and on levels of consumption. Customers are able to make comparisons via the Energywatch website for tariffs in their own areas.
DTI conducts a survey of domestic electricity suppliers that collects data on their tariffs and customer numbers. This data is provided on the assurance that it will not be possible to identify individual companies from the results published. Therefore, average prices broken down by supplier cannot be provided, although regional averages can. These figures are used to produce average electricity comparisons for cities in the UK regions published in the Quarterly Energy Prices publication and on DTI's website at www.dti.gov.uk/ energy/inform/energy_prices/index.shtml. The relevant table is reproduced as follows: 1779W
Table 2.2.3 Average annual domestic electricity bills1 in 2003 for selected towns and cities in the UK and average unit costs2 Pence per kWh and pounds Payment type Credit Direct debit Prepayment Town/city3 Bill range4 Unit cost Bill Unit cost Bill Unit cost Bill Ipswich largest 7.48 247 7.09 234 8.18 270 Average 6.85 226 6.58 217 7.24 239 Smallest 6.15 203 5.85 193 6.67 220 Leeds largest 8.52 281 7.36 243 8.36 276 Average 7.24 239 6.94 229 7.70 254 Smallest 6.70 221 6 04 199 7.15 236 Liverpool largest 8.21 271 8.12 268 9.03 298 Average 7.91 261 7.67 253 8.12 268 Smallest 6.79 224 6.58 217 7.52 248 London largest 7.70 254 7.70 254 8.42 278 Average 7.55 249 7.30 241 7.67 253 Smallest 6.55 216 6.24 206 7.33 242 Manchester largest 8.00 264 7.27 240 8.97 296 Average 7.12 235 6.82 225 7.64 252 Smallest 6.52 215 6.27 207 6.91 228 Newcastle largest 9.45 312 8.94 295 8.61 284 Average 7.58 250 7.33 242 8.15 269 Largest 6.67 220 6.21 205 7.06 233 Nottingham largest 7.24 239 7.15 236 8.52 281 Average 6.91 228 6.55 216 7.48 247 Largest 6.48 214 6.15 203 6.94 229 Plymouth largest 8.39 277 8.33 275 9.18 303 Average 8.15 269 7.85 259 8.15 269 Smallest 7.30 241 6.94 229 7.82 258 Southampton largest 8.67 286 8.21 271 8.61 284 Average 7.73 255 7.27 240 8.27 273 Smallest 6.64 219 6.48 214 7.03 232 UK largest 9.85 325 9.58 316 9.94 328 Average 7.58 250 7.21 238 8.05 266 Smallest 6.15 203 5.85 193 6.64 219
1 All bills are calculated assuming an annual consumption of 3,300 kWh. They are calculated as weighted (by average customer numbers) averages of individual tariff bills. Figures are inclusive of VAT. 2003 bills relate to the total bill received during the year, which covers consumption from Q4 2002 to Q3 2003.2 Unit costs are calculated by dividing the bills shown by the relevant consumption levels.3 The towns/cities specified indicate which electricity region these bills apply to (see Table A2 in Annex A).4 The largest and smallest annual all tariff average company electricity bills and unit costs.5 There is no competition in electricity in Belfast, therefore no smallest/largest tariffs available.