I would like to update the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye.<\/p>
In May 2010 there were 7 independent companies supplying gas and/or electricity to households in Great Britain. Since 2010, thanks to the pro-competition, pro-consumer policies of this Government, as part of our long term economic plan, the number of independent suppliers has not just trebled, but almost quadrupled.<\/p>
The Domestic Energy Market Snapshot 31 October 2014, published by Energy UK, notes that the number of suppliers in the domestic market has reached an all-time high of 26 suppliers.<\/p>
Year<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Wholesale gas (p/therm) price<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Electricity (£/MWh)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> (Source: NBP day-ahead price from ICIS Heren)<\/strong><\/p><\/td> (Source: day-ahead price from Marex Spectron)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2001<\/p><\/td> 18.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2002<\/p><\/td> 16.70<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2003<\/p><\/td> 21.20<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2004<\/p><\/td> 22.60<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2005<\/p><\/td> 39.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2006<\/p><\/td> 42.60<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2007<\/p><\/td> 30<\/p><\/td> 31.10<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008<\/p><\/td> 58<\/p><\/td> 74.50<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009<\/p><\/td> 31<\/p><\/td> 37.50<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010<\/p><\/td> 42<\/p><\/td> 41.90<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011<\/p><\/td> 56<\/p><\/td> 48.20<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012<\/p><\/td> 60<\/p><\/td> 45.10<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013<\/p><\/td> 68<\/p><\/td> 50.60<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2014<\/p><\/td> 50<\/p><\/td> 42.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-02T17:49:16.277Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "63"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Prices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department has made of the wholesale cost of (a) electricity and (b) gas in each year since 2001.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/389", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Flint"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Don Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Flint"}
], "uin" : "225172"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/223269", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/223269/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Domestic Energy Market Snapshot 31 October 2014, published by Energy UK, notes that the aggregate major supplier share of the domestic dual fuel energy market had dropped to 89.5%.<\/p> Electricity<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> Gas<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jan-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 199.9<\/p><\/td> 250.7<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Feb-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 200.4<\/p><\/td> 251.3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mar-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 199.8<\/p><\/td> 250.5<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Apr-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> May-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jun-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jul-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Aug-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sep-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Oct-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Nov-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Dec-14<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td> 198.6<\/p><\/td> 249.3<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> In 2014 DECC estimates that the average price of electricity was 15.57 pence/kWh based on annual consumption of 3,800 kWh/year, with the average price of gas 5.02 pence/kWh based on consumption of 15,000 kWh / year.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/176759/answer/previousversion/42703", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-09T14:39:53.257Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "63"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Prices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per GWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month of 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4047", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Greatrex"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutherglen and Hamilton West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Greatrex"}
], "uin" : "222720"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175699", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175699/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ofgem Review of 2010-11 recommended that the Social and Environmental Statutory Guidance to the Gas and Electricity Market Authority should be replaced with a new Strategy and Policy Statement. The guidance will be repealed once the statement is designated. The draft statement, which Government consulted on last year, makes it clear that helping vulnerable households is one of the Government\u2019s strategic priorities to which Ofgem should have regard to when carrying out its regulatory functions.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175699/answer/previousversion/41830", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-02T15:01:41.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "63"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Prices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will amend the Social and Environment Statutory Guidance to the Gas and Electric Market Authority to include families with children as a vulnerable group.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"}
], "uin" : "222108"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175247", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/175247/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Our overall assessment is that a price freeze would have a negative impact on energy prices by increasing regulatory risk, decreasing the incentives for companies to cut prices, and could also have a detrimental impact on investment. A more risk averse approach to investment could affect supplier decisions regarding the size of their workforce.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-01-27T15:36:58.93Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "63"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy and Climate Change"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-01-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Energy: Prices"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will conduct an impact assessment on freezing energy bills on the energy sector and its potential effect on the workforce that sector employs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4135", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Morris"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Morecambe and Lunesdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Morris"}
], "uin" : "221785"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/174719", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy and Climate Change"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/174719/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Since 2010, the Department has awarded £5,010,706 of support to collective switching schemes through the Cheaper Energy Together scheme. Over the short period that this fund was available between December 2012 and March 2013, the number of customers who switched was 21,641.<\/p> Since then local councils and consumers switching sites have continued to run schemes to help consumers switch together, saving them more than £10 million.<\/p> The Department has published an assessment of schemes supported by the Cheaper Energy Together scheme, which is available at this link:<\/p> |