8/4/2008

Electricity consumers in North Wales pay on average 4% more and consumers in South Wales pay on average 10% more for their electricity compared to the English average, according to new research by the fuel watchdog energywatch.

The news will be discussed by the Welsh Assembly sustainability committee on Thursday as it tries to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in Wales.

Mick Bates AM, chair of the committee, said : "Fuel poverty and the impact of increasing fuel prices mean that there are many people cold this winter. I am looking forward to hearing the energywatch research findings in this area, and I am very pleased that the energy companies have agreed to give evidence."

The Assembly Government is aiming to eradicate fuel poverty among vulnerable households by 2010 and eradicate fuel poverty among all households by 2018

Since January 2003 average national domestic electricity bills have gone up by 69% and gas bills by 108%.  In Wales we have seen an average increase of 63% for electricity in North Wales, 56% for electricity in South Wales and 101% for gas.

In the Assembly Fuel Poverty in Wales 2004 report the levels of fuel poverty were an estimated 134,000 in 2004. Another report estimated that the number of households in fuel poverty in 2006 was 240,000.  

Since the beginning of 2008 all major energy suppliers have increased their prices by an average 15%. This has exacerbated the problems in Wales.  

energywatch believes that the latest round of price increases has increased the number of households in fuel poverty to around 4.5 million nationally, a rise of around 500,000.  If this increase was proportioned for Wales it would increase the number of Welsh fuel poor households by 12.5% bringing the latest estimate to 270,000.

At present the average bill for both fuels in North Wales is 965 pounds for direct debit customers, 1050 for standard credit customers and 1100 for prepayment meter customers.

In South Wales the average bill for both fuels is 988 for direct debit customers, 1074 for standard credit customers and 1126 for repayment meter customers. Once again the hardest hit by the price increases are those less able to afford them, prepayment meter customers.