Oxfordshire Council pays top electricity rates in England, sparking criticism over potential millions in avoidable costs.

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. 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. 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. Conservative councillor Ian Snowdon called the costs indefensible, criticizing the waste of public funds amid high council tax. 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.