牛津郡委员会支付英格兰最高电费,这引起了对数百万可避免费用的潜在成本的批评。 Oxfordshire Council pays top electricity rates in England, sparking criticism over potential millions in avoidable costs.

牛津郡议会因支付英格兰最高的电价之一——每千瓦时44.1便士——而受到关注，有人声称如果采用其他议会使用的更便宜电价，本可以节省数百万美元。 Oxfordshire County Council is under scrutiny for paying one of the highest electricity rates in England—44.1p per kWh—amid claims it could have saved millions by adopting cheaper rates used by other councils. 《时报》报道说,通过选择最低可用费率,三年内理事会本可以节省近20亿英镑,牛津郡可能节省100万英镑的电力和28万英镑的天然气,如果这与圣奥尔本理事会的22.2p费率相符。 The Times reported that councils could have saved nearly £2 billion over three years by choosing the lowest available rates, with Oxfordshire potentially saving £1 million on electricity and £280,000 on gas if it matched St Albans Council’s 22.2p rate. 理事会以规模、能源网格、长期收费和数据报告方式的差异为由,对比较提出异议,并说理事会通过皇家商务局遵循政府采购准则。 The council disputes the comparison, citing differences in size, energy grids, standing charges, and how data is reported, and says it follows government procurement guidelines via the Crown Commercial Service. 保守党议员伊恩·斯诺登称这些费用不可辩护，批评高额市政税中公共资金的浪费。 Conservative councillor Ian Snowdon called the costs indefensible, criticizing the waste of public funds amid high council tax. 牛津市议会的费率是29.1p/kWh,在268个市议会中占第156位,而其他一些地方议会则被排除在分析之外。 Oxford City Council’s rate was 29.1p per kWh, ranking 156th out of 268 councils, while several other local councils were excluded from the analysis.