Watford's electricity use in 2020 was highest in eight years

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that households mainly spent more time at home than they usually would, particularly during lockdown periods.

Now figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show 153 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity were consumed by domestic meters in Watford in 2020.

This was a 6 per cent rise on the 145 GWh consumed the year before and the largest change since comparable records began in 2012.

The figures come at a time of rising energy prices, driven by a spike in the cost of gas, with energy bills predicted to double this year.

But across Great Britain while electricity use at homes rose in 2020, non-domestic consumption dropping by 11.1 per cent.

It means overall electricity use dropped by 4.8 per cent– the largest year-on-year fall on record.

There are fears that energy bills are soaring Photo: PA

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is calling on the Government to remove VAT on domestic gas and electricity bills through the winter months to help families concerned about the costs of soaring energy bills.

Ms Reeves said: “Right now, people are being hit by a cost-of-living crisis which has seen energy bills soar, food costs increase and the weekly budget stretched.

“We need a sustainable and ambitious approach to energy, which is why Labour would also ramp up ambition with our plan to retrofit 19 million homes, making our energy supply chain more secure without hitting household savings.”

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met with energy companies and regulator Ofgem after Christmas to discuss how to deal with soaring gas and electricity prices.

A Government spokesman said: “Throughout the meeting there was discussion of the issues facing the sector and an agreement for meetings to continue over the coming days and weeks to ensure UK consumers are protected.”

They added vulnerable households were being supported by initiatives such as the warm home discount, which has been extended to cover an extra 750,000 homes, as well as winter fuel payments, and cold weather payments.