Household energy bills have increased by nearly one-tenth above the rate of inflation since 2010, Jesse Norman has revealed.
Responding to a written question from Coventry MP Jim Cunningham, the energy minister said that household fuel bills had increased by 9.2 per cent in real terms, once inflation had been accounted for, between 2010 and 2016.
Norman informed the Labour backbencher that the increase had been 5.9 per cent and 13 per cent for gas and electricity bills respectively since the Conservative-led coalition government had come to power.
This comparison is based on an average consumption levels of 15,000kWh for gas and 3,800kWh for standard electricity.
He added that between 2010 and 2015 domestic energy consumption on a temperature corrected basis had fallen by 5.2 per cent.
Consumption data for 2016 is due to be published tomorrow (30 March) in the latest edition of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Energy Trends reports.
The news that energy bills have increased above the rate of inflation over the last six years has emerged following a series of controversial price hikes over recent weeks for customers of the so called Big Six power companies on standard variable tariffs.
Prime minister Theresa May said in a Conservative conference speech a fortnight ago that the government is mulling further intervention in the energy market in order to address customers’ concerns.
Steps to keep lid on energy bills are expected to be outlined in the consumer green paper, the publication of which is expected later in the spring.