Southampton among top 10 UK cities for highest utility bills

Solar Panel Installation analysed the average cost of utility bills across the UK - including energy, gas, and water - to determine the areas which are paying the most and which will be the worst affected by the 20% rise in energy prices in April this year.

They used the cost of living database Numbeo to discover this average cost.

Southampton came in fifth place on the list with an average annual cost of £2,762.40.

This was only beaten out by Bristol, Leeds, Coventry and London, which topped the list.

Gas, water and energy bills were analysed in the research (Image: PA)

On the other end of the scale, Portsmouth has the cheapest utility bills, with the average annual cost being £1,424.04. 

Top 10 cities with the highest utility bills

1. London - £3,221.04 average annual cost

2. Coventry - £3,044.40 

3. Leeds - £2,908.32 

4. Bristol - £2,779.92 

5. Southampton - £2,762.40 

6. Derby - £2,753.52 

7. Sheffield - £2,743.20 

8. Plymouth - £2,685 

9. Exeter - £2,641.44

10. Manchester - £2,604.48

A spokesperson from Solar Panel Installation has commented on the findings: “The past year has seen energy prices explode – Brits have experienced a 54% increase last April, a 27% increase in October, and are now facing a 20% rise in April this year.

"While it’s clear that these particular cities face a higher risk with the rising cost of energy that is set to happen in the coming months, it’s interesting to see that there isn’t a specific region dominating the list, with cities such as Manchester from the North West and Bristol from the South West making the top 10. 

“Getting into a habit of becoming more energy efficient can be a huge help to cutting down the cost of your utility bill, such as only running your dishwasher when it is completely full, keeping doors closed to trap the heat in, and even taking advantage of the sunlight by letting it pass through windows for warmth.”