The Expenditure and Food Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics showed that in 2004-05 the mean amount spent on gas was £287 per annum, while the mean amount spent on electricity was £313.
The median spend on gas was £271, while the median spend on electricity during 2004-05 was £276.
The amount of spend for the top of each decile in the distribution is shown for both gas and electricity in the table:
Annual spend on fuel according to position in spend decile (2004-05) Decile (top of): Gas Electricity 1 0 44 2 0 156 3 130 199 4 221 241 5 271 277 6 325 317 7 373 373 8 445 456 9 577 574 Source: Office for National Statistics
Those in the lowest deciles of gas spend will pay nothing for their fuel due to a lack of connection to the gas network.
The amount spent on gas and electricity by each decile in the income distribution is as follows:
Annual spend on fuel per income decile1 Income decile Gas Electricity Lowest 177 219 Second 219 250 Third 240 266 Fourth 266 287 Fifth 287 308 Sixth 292 318 Seventh 308 344 Eighth 339 360 Ninth 349 370 Tenth 417 428 1Source: Family Spending: A Report on the 2004-05 Expenditure and Food Survey (ONS: 2005)