Wiganers use less electricity than average

But the Energy Saving Trust said the Government is “not providing enough financial support or advice” to help people consume electricity efficiently.

The latest Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures show the average household in Wigan consumed 3,422 kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2017: 499 units less than the national average. One kilowatt-hour is the equivalent of 1,000 watts of electricity used in 60 minutes.

A UK household consumed an average of 3,921 kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2017: only a two per cent drop from the previous year. Wigan saw the same sized fall.

A trust spokeswoman said: “Governments can support and encourage households to cut their electricity use through continual improvements to minimum energy performance standards for new products and buildings, requiring landlords to install efficient heating, and through supporting information campaigns and independent advice services.

“They can also provide financial support to help people pay for improvements to their heating system and the insulation of their buildings.”

There was significant regional variation in the average electricity consumed per household, as it is affected by many factors including the size of property and household, level of disposable income and whether the home and hot water are heated by electricity or another fuel.

Domestic electricity consumption accounts for 38 per cent of all electricity consumption in Great Britain.

The EST said people could reduce their electricity use by choosing the most efficient products when buying new appliances and by turning lights and appliances off when not in use.

The spokeswoman added: “The highest home electricity users tend to be people using electric heating systems. People heating their homes with electricity can cut usage by upgrading their heating system and controls, and by insulating their home better so they waste less heat.”