Electricity prices vary by nearly 4p per unit

Under the government’s Energy Price Guarantee, people in North Wales, Cheshire and parts of Merseyside are paying the highest rate for their electricity. 

Customers in this region pay 36p a unit compared with the average of 34p and the lowest of 32p, new figures show. 

Over a year, a typical direct debit dual-fuel bill will pay £121 more than those in the cheapest region. 

Ofgem says price differences “reflect how much it costs to transport energy to where you live”.

It adds: “The charging regime… is a way to share out costs for running and maintaining the energy network.”