Fuel price rises differ across UK

Electricity supply has always been regionally priced in the UK

Customers of the major energy companies have different dual fuel bills depending on where they live in the UK.

EDF Energy and British Gas raised prices in recent days but some areas have seen bigger increases than others.

EDF customers in South Wales pay £94.47 more a year than those in the North West for the same energy usage, and British Gas also shows differences.

The companies say that transportation costs, accounting for about 14% of the average bill, differ across the UK.

For British Gas customers, the biggest difference is £31.23 a year when comparing direct debit paying customers in the Southern and South East areas.

The differences were highlighted when the two companies raised their prices within a week.

Highs and lows

On 25 July, EDF was the first of the big six energy companies to raise prices this summer when it raised gas prices by an average of 22% and electricity prices by 17% for domestic customers.

Our aim is to be as competitive as possible in each region British Gas spokesman EDF customers face higher bills Record rise for British Gas bills

Figures obtained by the BBC show that, following the changes, South Wales remained the area with the most expensive dual fuel EDF Energy bills. The South West and South Scotland was the next most pricey.

The cheapest areas are the North West, the Eastern region and Yorkshire.

See regional breakdown of EDF energy bill changes

On 30 July, British Gas announced it was raising gas prices by a record 35% and electricity prices by 9%.

The UK's biggest domestic energy supplier, which has 15.9 million customers, blamed "soaring wholesale energy prices".

For British Gas dual fuel customers, the Southern and Eastern areas are the most expensive. Those in the Southern area have seen a 30.8% price hike in the latest round of increases.

See regional breakdown of British Gas energy bill changes

The former Seeboard area of the South East and Yorkshire are the cheapest.

Transport costs

A British Gas spokesman said that the maximum regional variation was plus or minus 2.7%.

The other four energy companies are expected to raise prices

There were also regional differences in the price changes for customers who pay for gas and electricity separately, he said.

Electricity supply had always been regionally priced in the UK, based on the 14 old supply regions.

The British Gas spokesman said that regional gas pricing reflected the different transport and distribution charges applied by regulated local mains operators.

Basically, the closer customers are to a distribution point, the lower the cost, he said.

He added that British Gas previously averaged out these costs when it passed them on to customers, but now transport and distribution costs made up 14% of a gas bill, the company has decided to charge differently in each region.

"Our aim is to be as competitive as possible in each region," he said.

The other companies in the "big six" group of suppliers are expected to raise prices in the coming weeks.

BRITISH GAS REGIONAL PRICE VARIATIONS

	% change	£ change	Before price rise	After price rise
Eastern	30.8%	£294.78	£955.90	£1,250.68
East Midlands	27.8%	£267.56	£961.70	£1,229.26
London	29.1%	£278.91	£957.21	£1,236.12
ManWeb	27.6%	£270.26	£978.75	£1,249.01
Midlands	28.6%	£275.84	£963.70	£1,239.54
Northern	26.2%	£258.38	£985.92	£1,244.30
Norweb	27.7%	£269.68	£975.06	£1,244.74
Scottish Hydro	28.7%	£276.44	£962.23	£1,238.67
Scottish Power	27.8%	£268.97	£965.94	£1,234.91
Seeboard	29.7%	£280.09	£942.98	£1,223.07
Southern	30.3%	£291.94	£962.36	£1,254.30
Swalec	26.4%	£259.13	£981.96	£1,241.09
Sweb	27.1%	£266.73	£983.60	£1,250.33
Yorkshire	26.5%	£257.07	£968.97	£1,226.04
Note: Bills are for dual fuel paid by monthly direct debit. They include VAT and are based on average annual consumption of 20,500 kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh for single rate electricity.

EDF REGIONAL PRICE VARIATIONS

	% change	£ change	Before price rise	After price rise
London	21.10%	£206.56	£981.07	£1,187.63
South East	21.10%	£204.86	£970.71	£1,175.57
South West	21.00%	£211.34	£1,008.42	£1,219.76
North Scotland	21.00%	£208.07	£989.23	£1,197.30
South Wales	21.00%	£211.41	£1,008.92	£1,220.33
Southern	21.20%	£202.50	£956.91	£1,159.41
Eastern	21.30%	£197.73	£929.04	£1,126.77
East Midlands	21.20%	£200.38	£944.44	£1,144.82
North West	21.30%	£197.71	£928.15	£1,125.86
North East	21.30%	£198.96	£936.25	£1,135.21
West Midlands	21.20%	£200.04	£942.39	£1,142.43
Yorkshire	21.30%	£198.84	£934.83	£1,133.67
North Wales	21.00%	£207.75	£987.03	£1,194.78
South Scotland	21.00%	£208.39	£991.97	£1,200.36
Average	21.10%	£203.90	£964.95	£1,168.85
Note: Bills are for dual fuel paid by monthly direct debit. They include VAT and are based on average annual consumption of 20,500 kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh for single rate electricity.

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