AF62 wrote:Snorvey wrote:I think one of the biggest factors is one that Dod alluded to. People are being very careful with their energy. Which isnt a bad thing.
Not sure about that at all.
We haven't reached the point in the year when many people turn their gas heating on anyway, or even if it is on it doesn't use much. At the moment the thermometer on my desk is showing 20.1C and the central heating although theoretically 'on' hasn't fired up any morning yet.
14-16C in our house depending on the time of day, and a lot of people around here have their heating on - condensing boilers are a giveaway
MrsF visited family the other weekend, all had the heating on, although one is over 80 and another has terminal cancer.88V8 wrote:Yes.
Although it will cost me, I welcome the increase in energy prices.
It will deter the profligacy with which many people heat their homes, use tumble dryers etc.
Tough for those who are skint. But on the whole a 'good thing'.
I agree that there is massive profligacy with energy use, large cars on walkable school runs, "essential" appliances that didn't exist 20 years ago, heating the whole house instead of the bits you use, food waste, throwaway fashion. Many young families grew up under Thatcher, consumerism, and the relatively properous times thereafter. When I was young we didn't put our heating on until 1973. Before that was a coal fire and back boiler, and a heating tube high up on a cold bathroom wall that my big sister used to push me against when I got out of the bath.
But I suspect many people on here have little idea how the truly poor end of society live, for a start we are all on the internet, which even on social tarrifs is £180/mont (iroically about the same as we pay after a bit of haggling). The chap next door in the 1990s was a 'doorstep lender', people were borrowing ten or 20 quid at extortionate rates simply to buy tinned food. He gave it up after under 12 months as he couldn't cope with seeing how people struggled. About 4 years ago I went around to my cleaner's 2 bed flat in a council block after one of her idiot teenagers (2 teenage boys sharing a room) had tried to unblock a sink by ramming a cloth down the pipe with a stick. Even back then the combi boiler was switched off at the wall, only coming on to fill a bath every few days, which they all used in turn. 2 lights on in the flat. No landline, internet, TV, one PAYG mobile between them (mainly for her work). She got a letter form the Inland Revenue, so we went though her bank to notify them of earnings, including all the benefits she was supporting a family of 3 on about £10k. I really hate to think hw she's struggling now, probably can't even afford the standing charges. Early last month we visited an old friend who has had problems, she's in a social housing flat in Devon. She measured the water into the kettle to make us tea. Prominent was the smart meter display, showing an incredible under £2 for the day including her shower. She's done her budgeting, and said that "if it reaches £3 I turn the lights off and go to bed" (and yet still fought us over paying for dinner). With the current cap and standing charges that is scary, and the £400 really will make a difference.
There wil be old people dying in their homes this winter from hypothermia, in the UK and across the rest of the so called developed world. And on the whole, I'm not too sure this is a 'good thing'.
Snorvey wrote:I'm on a 1 year deal until 31.12.22.
Scottish Power will only offer me a renewal on their variable rate (understandably).
The standing charge has remained pretty much at 50p per day (I'm currently paying 16p), but I'm not all that bothered about that.
The day rate has fluctuated between 30 to 50% more.
The quoted night rate was consistently higher by up to 50%, but is now marginally lower (!) than my current fixed rate deal
Last winter we paid 16.7p for electric and 2.84p for gas, standing charge was 46p for both. Total for the year £1517.
This winter we pay 32.1p for electric and 9.8p for gas, standing charge is 73p for both. Total this year is £1550 for electric and standong charge alone, and £3900 total. I doubled the direct debit in June in readiness for this.
We have no mortgage, car loans, or children, so our other big spends are house stuff (insurance, Council tax, phone/TV), and vehicle tax/insurance, largely unchanged at circa £5.5k.
But add in that food prices are 25-50% up on many items year on year, car fuel is 40% higher than 12 months ago, and I do wonder where this measly figure of 10% inflation comes from.
Paul
