The average UK household electricity price is at least 30 per cent higher than in many of its European neighbours, with the country’s greater reliance on natural gas for power generation hitting consumers hard.

Europe is experiencing a continent-wide energy crisis caused by reduced oil and gas flows from Russia, but the direct impact on households varies widely depending on the energy mix of the country, according to electricity and gas pricing from Energy Prices, a Dutch consultancy.

Levels of government support, pricing mechanisms and taxation are also important factors, with countries such as France capping the amount electricity prices are allowed to rise. The EU has proposed a cap on Russian gas prices and a levy on energy companies to protect households and businesses, and many European countries have announced individual measures such as tax cuts.