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Energy Bills

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  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,561
    British Gas have just credited me the £230+ that I was in credit with Peoples Energy when they went bust last October and I was switched to BG. Happy days.
  • iaitch
    iaitch Posts: 10,230
    That'll pay for a few days energy then.
  • buckshee
    buckshee Posts: 7,867
    I look after solar maintenance for a local authority (around 800 properties) and I know in the coming weeks I'll be getting bombarded with calls saying their systems aren't working correctly as their bills increase. Fortunately these are all on an online portal which I can use to show they're working fine. 

    If you've got a decent size south facing roof it might be worth looking into getting some panels on it. 
  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,037
    LargeAddick said:
    British Gas have just credited me the £230+ that I was in credit with Peoples Energy when they went bust last October and I was switched to BG. Happy days.
    Nice one - what will you do with your five hours of free energy?
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,622
    Covered End said:
    Presumably the standing charges are increasing to help enable the remaining companies from going bust. 
    The large energy firms are making huge profits. Increasing standing charges at this point is outrageous and completely unnecessary. As for firms going bust. Isn’t that capitalism at work ? The large energy companies are doing very nicely out of this thanks to this government’s reluctance to windfall tax them. The U.K. should be doing exactly what the French are doing. Capping the increases at 4%.
  • charlton4ever
    charlton4ever Posts: 1,716
    edited April 2022
    LargeAddick said:
    British Gas have just credited me the £230+ that I was in credit with Peoples Energy when they went bust last October and I was swowitched to BG. Happy days.



    That would have paid two months energy a year ago for me .... not now
  • TellyTubby
    TellyTubby Posts: 3,550
    We have typically paid around £1200 pa for electricity via Bulb and £1500 for heating oil from whoever is the cheapest at the time.

    Our last fill of oil, only one company was prepared to take the order from our syndicate and only then if we agreed to take it without a quote as normal. The delivery of 748 litres was about 3 weeks ago and we still don't know how much we will be charged.

    I've heard from others that the cost, if correct is likely to increase our annual heating bill around £1500 to £2000pa if the cost was the same for the whole year. 

    There is no price regulation for us 1.7m oil users.

    There are plenty of people local to us on very low incomes, this type of increase in outgoings could be devastating. 
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,846
    TellyTubby said:
    We have typically paid around £1200 pa for electricity via Bulb and £1500 for heating oil from whoever is the cheapest at the time.

    Our last fill of oil, only one company was prepared to take the order from our syndicate and only then if we agreed to take it without a quote as normal. The delivery of 748 litres was about 3 weeks ago and we still don't know how much we will be charged.

    I've heard from others that the cost, if correct is likely to increase our annual heating bill around £1500 to £2000pa if the cost was the same for the whole year. 

    There is no price regulation for us 1.7m oil users.

    There are plenty of people local to us on very low incomes, this type of increase in outgoings could be devastating. 
    We switched from oil to all electric last year and it sounds like the right decision.
  • Big_Bad_World
    Big_Bad_World Posts: 5,859
    edited April 2022
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
  • TellyTubby
    TellyTubby Posts: 3,550
    bobmunro said:
    TellyTubby said:
    We have typically paid around £1200 pa for electricity via Bulb and £1500 for heating oil from whoever is the cheapest at the time.

    Our last fill of oil, only one company was prepared to take the order from our syndicate and only then if we agreed to take it without a quote as normal. The delivery of 748 litres was about 3 weeks ago and we still don't know how much we will be charged.

    I've heard from others that the cost, if correct is likely to increase our annual heating bill around £1500 to £2000pa if the cost was the same for the whole year. 

    There is no price regulation for us 1.7m oil users.

    There are plenty of people local to us on very low incomes, this type of increase in outgoings could be devastating. 
    We switched from oil to all electric last year and it sounds like the right decision.
    I'd be interested in the comparison, historically oil is cheaper than electric heating I understand. 

    We have recently fitted new boilers, so that would be a more difficult decision for us. 
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  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,846
    edited April 2022
    TellyTubby said:
    bobmunro said:
    TellyTubby said:
    We have typically paid around £1200 pa for electricity via Bulb and £1500 for heating oil from whoever is the cheapest at the time.

    Our last fill of oil, only one company was prepared to take the order from our syndicate and only then if we agreed to take it without a quote as normal. The delivery of 748 litres was about 3 weeks ago and we still don't know how much we will be charged.

    I've heard from others that the cost, if correct is likely to increase our annual heating bill around £1500 to £2000pa if the cost was the same for the whole year. 

    There is no price regulation for us 1.7m oil users.

    There are plenty of people local to us on very low incomes, this type of increase in outgoings could be devastating. 
    We switched from oil to all electric last year and it sounds like the right decision.
    I'd be interested in the comparison, historically oil is cheaper than electric heating I understand. 

    We have recently fitted new boilers, so that would be a more difficult decision for us. 
    Our decision was based on part of a full refurb (which thankfully is now only 3 weeks away from being completed!) and we wanted to future proof the house as we enter our dotage with minimal ongoing maintenance issues. They are (apparently) super efficient ceramic core German radiators -  short-term our heating costs will increase relative to oil, but medium-term we should see a benefit. 
  • MrWalker
    MrWalker Posts: 4,107
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
  • O-Randy-Hunt
    O-Randy-Hunt Posts: 10,654
    I drink shit loads of tea and coffee. Think I'll start putting my boiling water into a flask going forward so I'm covered for the day 🤣
  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 15,813
    my smart meter went from 23p per hour to £1.11 an hour when I just clicked the kettle on
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,622
    With such massive increases it’s actually really tough to mitigate by doing things differently although it will of course have some impact. Only boiling the amount of water needed, cooking vegetables together in a steamer, cooking two or three meals in the oven at the same time that then only need reheating. Cooking larger amounts to refrigerate or freeze. Turn thermostat down a degree, turn water temperature down. Go to bed ten minutes earlier, put on a jumper. All sensible but it seems to me that it’s still outrageous that in the worlds 5th/6th richest country we should need to be thinking in these terms just to make ends meet. This crisis and that’s what it actually is really does need government interventions. What they have done thus far is absolutely pathetic. 
  • Big_Bad_World
    Big_Bad_World Posts: 5,859
    edited April 2022
    Invest in a few battery powered PIR sensor lights. We've had one in both of our bathrooms for a few weeks now. Hardest part was getting the kids out of the habit of turning the main light on, only to then walk out and leaving it on.

    Batteries are very inexpensive as well.
  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Invest in a few battery powered PIR sensor lights. We've had one in both of our bathrooms for a few weeks now. Hardest part was getting the kids out of the habit of turnng the main light on, only to then walk out and leaving it on.

    Batteries are very inexpensive as well.
    You can also install permanent sensors on your main lighting if this is a problem in a household. We have a dressing room off our main bedroom and my wife would stroll out and leave the light on all day. I have now fitted a sensor that brings the lights on when it detects motion in the room and they go off a couple of minutes after you leave the room. Tiny little unit on the ceiling, hardly notice it.
  • RickAddick
    RickAddick Posts: 1,198
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    What’s going completely under the radar it seems to me is the fact that standing charges are going up across the country by an average of around 81%. Why ? The inability to supply gas and electricity cheaply is understandable but what’s changed in standing charges which pay for the cables and pipes etc that warrants such a massive increase and at a time when the uncontrollable aspects of energy are causing people to not heat their homes. What the fuck are Offgem or whatever the regulator is called these days doing ? Eff all is the answer. 
    The various regulators exist to pay a nice fat salary to the CEO and a few others. And give the public the impression the government actually cares.
    Surely everybody knows that?
    Name a regulator that is fit for purpose. Ummm...
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,622
    edited April 2022
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Invest in a few battery powered PIR sensor lights. We've had one in both of our bathrooms for a few weeks now. Hardest part was getting the kids out of the habit of turnng the main light on, only to then walk out and leaving it on.

    Batteries are very inexpensive as well.
    I’ve changed every light in my house to LED over the last few months including outside lights away from Halogen. Old incandescent lighting is far more costly (around 80% and LED lasts 8 x longer) and the only pain is making the changeover. Every little helps.
  • Rob7Lee
    Rob7Lee Posts: 9,595
    I've got LED/Hue/smart lights throughout, also with a number of sensors.

    I have a little button by the front door that also turns everything off for the last person out, or if they forget then I can do so from my phone/internet. With the cost of all the lights though it'll probably be a 15 year pay back  :D

    I'm pleased to say that since getting a new boiler/heating system my cost has gone down over 2/3rd's - so after the latest price increase it should still half from what it was.
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  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,729
    The suggestion of a one off windfall tax on the excess profits on oil/gas companies seems reasonable. It is the excess profits gained because of the high price of these fuels. They have admitted themselves that they have more money they know what to do with.

    The argument given by the Government is that the companies will use this money for investment and lately because it goes into pension funds so benefits old people! Again, this is excess profits we are talking about to react to an extreme circumstance. 
  • stevexreeve
    stevexreeve Posts: 1,386
    ShootersHillGuru said:
    What’s going completely under the radar it seems to me is the fact that standing charges are going up across the country by an average of around 81%. Why ? The inability to supply gas and electricity cheaply is understandable but what’s changed in standing charges which pay for the cables and pipes etc that warrants such a massive increase and at a time when the uncontrollable aspects of energy are causing people to not heat their homes. What the fuck are Offgem or whatever the regulator is called these days doing ? Eff all is the answer. 
    I don't understand why there is a standing charges in the first place.

    Surely we should be trying to move to a situation where everybody can have a small amount of energy at a low price but you have to pay a higher price as you use more.  (the low fruits for everybody - higher fruits for those that can afford to get them theory).

    As it is a poor pensioner can stop using gas completely and still have to pay something while the more you use the cheaper it effectively becomes. 
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,633
    MrWalker said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
    Think BBW is watching his, still that’s better than watching the spanners.
  • Big_Bad_World
    Big_Bad_World Posts: 5,859
    guinnessaddick said:
    MrWalker said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
    Think BBW is watching his, still that’s better than watching the spanners.
    6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in our last 9 games  :p
  • Off_it
    Off_it Posts: 28,850
    Big_Bad_World said:
    guinnessaddick said:
    MrWalker said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
    Think BBW is watching his, still that’s better than watching the spanners.
    6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in our last 9 games  :p
    Maybe, but it's still Millwall.
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,846
    Big_Bad_World said:
    guinnessaddick said:
    MrWalker said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
    Think BBW is watching his, still that’s better than watching the spanners.
    6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in our last 9 games  :p
    I was at the Stoke game and they did not look good, and that was against a piss poor Stoke team. 

    Strange game for me (in a box full of spanners!) - one where you want both teams to lose!!
  • TellyTubby
    TellyTubby Posts: 3,550
    Rob7Lee said:
    I've got LED/Hue/smart lights throughout, also with a number of sensors.

    I have a little button by the front door that also turns everything off for the last person out, or if they forget then I can do so from my phone/internet. With the cost of all the lights though it'll probably be a 15 year pay back  :D

    I'm pleased to say that since getting a new boiler/heating system my cost has gone down over 2/3rd's - so after the latest price increase it should still half from what it was.
    Sounds like win.
    What did you junk and what did you replace it with? 
  • Big_Bad_World
    Big_Bad_World Posts: 5,859
    bobmunro said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    guinnessaddick said:
    MrWalker said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Boiling a kettle now costs 87p per hour, up from 49p yesterday.
    That's OK, mine boils water much quicker than that.
    Think BBW is watching his, still that’s better than watching the spanners.
    6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in our last 9 games  :p
    I was at the Stoke game and they did not look good, and that was against a piss poor Stoke team. 

    Strange game for me (in a box full of spanners!) - one where you want both teams to lose!!
    Yeah, we were awful. I was also there. It was a day full of hopium.
  • stevexreeve
    stevexreeve Posts: 1,386
    Showmetheway2gohome said:
    The government can half the vat on gas and electric now and still get the same amount of money with the rise in prices.
    Not really. The extra money that people are now using to buy gas and electricity would have been spent on something else and they would have paid VAT. So the government needs to keep taking VAT on that money if it wants to restore the NHS.
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,622
    stevexreeve said:
    Showmetheway2gohome said:
    The government can half the vat on gas and electric now and still get the same amount of money with the rise in prices.
    Not really. The extra money that people are now using to buy gas and electricity would have been spent on something else and they would have paid VAT. So the government needs to keep taking VAT on that money if it wants to restore the NHS.
    Do you mean to it’s pre Covid Tory glory ?

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