Energy crisis

[danhibees1875]

With another 50% increase in October expected get cambo drilling started now. Will take a few years and greens won't be happy but needs must

The April increase will be somewhat mitigated by the summer months, but that October increase is going to sting badly next winter.

[DH1875]

Just had a email back from Eon after i put in my complaint. Part of it reads;

I understand your frustration and confusion regarding the recent price cap letter we have sent. When quoting customers on a tariff renewal or direct debit reassessment we are only able to go off what is called the EAC (estimated annual consumption) this is the usage we obtain from the industry for the property and not individual customers.

So sack my actual usage and my meter readings. Their literary just making it up. Best bit about the email, boy says to phone him if any queries or questions. You guessed it, no phone number lol. AND I'm still no further forward.

[Col2]

The April increase will be somewhat mitigated by the summer months, but that October increase is going to sting badly next winter.

This is right but it is also dangerous as those that pay on demand rather than split equally over 12 months will walk into a total nightmare by October.

[Col2]

Just finishing fixed rate in April and go from £210 to £444 per month projected on variable from April. ‘Offered’ two year fixed rate of £751 per month. Creeping towards £10k for electricity and gas, WTF.

3 years ago paying about £135 per month.

[grunt]

Just finishing fixed rate in April and go from £210 to £444 per month projected on variable from April. ‘Offered’ two year fixed rate of £751 per month. Creeping towards £10k for electricity and gas, WTF. 3 years ago paying about £135 per month.
Why would anyone take that offer?? They must be expecting stupid levels of increase in the years ahead ... :confused:

[Skol]

Just finishing fixed rate in April and go from £210 to £444 per month projected on variable from April. ‘Offered’ two year fixed rate of £751 per month. Creeping towards £10k for electricity and gas, WTF.

3 years ago paying about £135 per month.

My fixed rate of £195 ended in October and I still have about £140 credit. My payment has just gone up to £250 but on the quotes it suggests SVR is £325 and to fix they want £452. I was offered a fix last October of about £260 which I rejected as being ludicrously expensive and now wish I had bitten their hand off. That said I clearly haven’t used £260per month since October so maybe it’s not all bad

I have also managed to get the family to buy into energy saving measures. Washing being hung out rather than tumble dried. Turned the thermostat down and only using when we need to. Shutting doors and turning lights off as we leave rooms.

Hope I get to October without increasing my payment and by then the market has stabilised

[Moulin Yarns]

I suggest everyone takes meter readings on 31st even photographing the readings to provide evidence of usage at current prices.

[lapsedhibee]

I suggest everyone takes meter readings on 31st even photographing the readings to provide evidence of usage at current prices.

That might be awkies for those who've said quite plainly that they'll be, er, overestimating meter readings taken before that date.

[Santa Cruz]

I suggest everyone takes meter readings on 31st even photographing the readings to provide evidence of usage at current prices.

Why, what's the benefit to doing this? I have a smart meter so don't provide readings to my provider. Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, just not understanding the purpose of this suggestion.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Why, what's the benefit to doing this? I have a smart meter so don't provide readings to my provider. Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, just not understanding the purpose of this suggestion.

If you manually put your readings in then you want to know exactly what you’ve used before the increase incase they try and charge you for pre-increase usage at post increase rates.

[Santa Cruz]

If you manually put your readings in then you want to know exactly what you’ve used before the increase incase they try and charge you for pre-increase usage at post increase rates.

:aok:

[WhileTheChief..]

Need to pick a side stop buying Russian oil and lower crippling prices or net zero quicker on the other side, can't be both. You need another source but renewable.

British gas made 118 million profit last year and is expecting similar this year, that's less than a tenner per customer per year so not making a dent

Also, how much did they lose the year before?

I know that BP and Shell made huge profits last year but they made even bigger losses the year before.

They hardly make any money from their businesses in the UK.

[bigwheel]

Also, how much did they lose the year before?

I know that BP and Shell made huge profits last year but they made even bigger losses the year before.

They hardly make any money from their businesses in the UK.

BP unusually made a loss in 2020. But before and after that’s not the situation

Again (admittedly from memory ) Shell made a 4 billion profit in 2020. No losses. that was down from 15 or so billion the year before ..

They are both cash rich. BP for example spent over half a billion on share buy back last year iirc ….

[speedy_gonzales]

If you manually put your readings in then you want to know exactly what you’ve used before the increase incase they try and charge you for pre-increase usage at post increase rates.

I take it there a significant number of folk out there that just pay the variable rate for their fuel.
I thought the majority would be on fixed tariffs?
Mines is fixed until August so the 31st of March means nothing to me.

[Stairway 2 7]

Robert Kimbell
@Rob_Kimbell
·

New gas field found under North Sea. The gas will flow into Bacton on the Norfolk coast

https://www.cityam.com/iog-delivers-first-gas-in-new-north-sea-project/

[Paul1642]

BP unusually made a loss in 2020. But before and after that’s not the situation

Again (admittedly from memory ) Shell made a 4 billion profit in 2020. No losses. that was down from 15 or so billion the year before ..

They are both cash rich. BP for example spent over half a billion on share buy back last year iirc ….

There was an economic analyst on BBC Scotland a few days ago saying something along the lines of not to get too worked up at big companies making profits as much of this is either re invested or payed as dividends to share holders, at which stage the majority of that money actually goes towards your average persons pension fund (which is invested in many companies) rather than it just being a case of rich people getting richer.

[grunt]

I take it there a significant number of folk out there that just pay the variable rate for their fuel.
I thought the majority would be on fixed tariffs?
Mines is fixed until August so the 31st of March means nothing to me.Anyone whose supplier has gone bust (like mine) will have been transferred to a variable rate tariff.

[Stairway 2 7]

sandieshoes usa🇺🇸
@sandieshoe
·

UKs Boris is going to Saudi to ask them & countries around them to pump more oil so the global price of oil can come down.
He’s going because Saudi & US have fallen out.

The government's fossil fuel industry regulator has approved a new oil and gas project in the North Sea.

Boris Johnson and senior ministers held a meeting on Monday with the bosses of UK-based offshore oil and gas companies to discuss ramping up investment to bolster supplies of gas

[nonshinyfinish]

I take it there a significant number of folk out there that just pay the variable rate for their fuel.
I thought the majority would be on fixed tariffs?
Mines is fixed until August so the 31st of March means nothing to me.

Also anyone whose fixed rate ended in the last few months will have been offered extremely high price for a new fixed rate – almost certainly quite a bit higher than the variable rate will be come April, because companies are hedging against further increases. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if significant numbers of people in that position have chosen to take their chances with the variable rate rather than lock in even higher prices.

[gbhibby]

Just finishing fixed rate in April and go from £210 to £444 per month projected on variable from April. ‘Offered’ two year fixed rate of £751 per month. Creeping towards £10k for electricity and gas, WTF.

3 years ago paying about £135 per month.
I got 2 offers quoting £876 and £900 per month dual fuel fixed rate one year and fixed rate 2 years.I pay £192 per month.
I think the supply and the way the energy companies operate needs to be investigated. My energy company at this moment in time has about 150 different tarriffs if you are not savvy and rely on the energy companies recommendations you will end up paying a hell of a lot more than you should. I have phoned my energy company and only been offered certain tarriffs from that company which are expensive and been told that I would get a better tarriff going through a price comparison site as this was the only place that tarriff was available. What a way to operate.

[Moulin Yarns]

Now that he got the UK out of Europe he needs a new project!! 🙄

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1505880290685861889?t=q6tCEfzUI4yuf3EvTMCMag&s=19

[Stairway 2 7]

Now that he got the UK out of Europe he needs a new project!! 🙄

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1505880290685861889?t=q6tCEfzUI4yuf3EvTMCMag&s=19

Opportunism politics as per from him. People are toiling to heat their homes so in he swoops pretending he cares and has similar problems

[Stairway 2 7]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

[Jones28]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

Yay.

[Since90+2]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

Won't make a blind bit of difference with the energy bills increase and the rate of inflation. Just a token gesture that won't help anyone materially.

[The_Exile]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

Fantastic, I can now afford 5 carrots and 8 mushrooms in my poverty stews.

[danhibees1875]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

Is that "cost" not a bit of a false equivalence considering they also have VAT on petrol and the large increase in costs will see them scoop up plenty extra money there?

I've only done a quick Google having not really thought too much about the costs involved in petrol previously, but the government certainly seem to do well out of it!

For every 100litres of fuel:

Previously at April 2021 the price was 125p/litre, that included 58p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £125
Duty to exchequer - £58
VAT to exchequer - £21
Total to exchequer - £79

Now at April 2022, the price is 167p/litre, with reduced 53p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £167
Duty to exchequer - £53
VAT to exchequer - £28
Total to exchequer - £81

So overall more to the exchequer, just not as much as they could have gained.

Or am I missing something? :greengrin

[JimBHibees]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

I think Ireland cuts theirs by 20%. Companies should have been hit with a windfall tax

[Stairway 2 7]

I think Ireland cuts theirs by 20%. Companies should have been hit with a windfall tax

Definitely

[Ozyhibby]

I think Ireland cuts theirs by 20%. Companies should have been hit with a windfall tax

Most countries are finding ways to help their populations through this, ours is focussed on helping big business.


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[JimBHibees]

Most countries are finding ways to help their populations through this, ours is focussed on helping big business.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Always the way. The levels of poverty in this country are going to be off the scale this year from a shameful starting point but I am sure Rees Mogg will be delighted that me are moving closer to his Victorian era dreamland.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Is that "cost" not a bit of a false equivalence considering they also have VAT on petrol and the large increase in costs will see them scoop up plenty extra money there?

I've only done a quick Google having not really thought too much about the costs involved in petrol previously, but the government certainly seem to do well out of it!

For every 100litres of fuel:

Previously at April 2021 the price was 125p/litre, that included 58p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £125
Duty to exchequer - £58
VAT to exchequer - £21
Total to exchequer - £79

Now at April 2022, the price is 167p/litre, with reduced 53p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £167
Duty to exchequer - £53
VAT to exchequer - £28
Total to exchequer - £81

So overall more to the exchequer, just not as much as they could have gained.

Or am I missing something? :greengrin

I remember seeing something previously that basically suggested that petrol stations make next to no profit off of petrol. The overwhelming majority of their profit is on crisps, sweets, juice etc.

[Scorrie]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

Can’t see that making a great deal of difference. Should’ve used that money to make public transport free.

Reading today that the Iceland CEX says that people aren’t taking potatoes or pasta from food banks as they can’t afford the fuel to cook it. Absolutely shocking in one of the richest countries in the world

[Jones28]

Is that "cost" not a bit of a false equivalence considering they also have VAT on petrol and the large increase in costs will see them scoop up plenty extra money there?

I've only done a quick Google having not really thought too much about the costs involved in petrol previously, but the government certainly seem to do well out of it!

For every 100litres of fuel:

Previously at April 2021 the price was 125p/litre, that included 58p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £125
Duty to exchequer - £58
VAT to exchequer - £21
Total to exchequer - £79

Now at April 2022, the price is 167p/litre, with reduced 53p duty and 20% VAT:
Customer pays - £167
Duty to exchequer - £53
VAT to exchequer - £28
Total to exchequer - £81

So overall more to the exchequer, just not as much as they could have gained.

Or am I missing something? :greengrin

It's a bit sickening reading it like that.

[Kato]

https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband/status/1506645765686538240?t=RcuMIdplOzizfhOTaMtE7Q&s=19

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[MKHIBEE]

Fuel duty cut by 5p per litre for the next year, starting 6pm tonight. Will cost Exchequer £5bn

To be recouped, and more, by the increased VAT paid on the higher price paid for petrol. Give with one hand, take more back with the other

[WhileTheChief..]

Most countries are finding ways to help their populations through this, ours is focussed on helping big business.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Most countries?

Opinion or fact?!

[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/petermacmahon/status/1507022683858296835?s=21

We’ll done the SG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Just Alf]

Soooo...

Yesterday at about half 5 sainsbury at Longstone had petrol at 164.9

Today after the 5p reduction its 169.9

I don't have the words!!!!!!!!!

[ronaldo7]

https://twitter.com/petermacmahon/status/1507022683858296835?s=21

We’ll done the SG.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A marked difference in the two governments that Scotland has. One leading the UK in payments to children in poverty, the other putting them there.

You only have to look at the numbers to see which one cares.

[gbhibby]

It's a bit sickening reading it like that.
That's what I thought when he announced that. People like Taxi PHC drivers that are council registered have to wait for the council to authorise increases in prices so suffer badly from these hike in prices. Also in rural Scotland there are people who rely on oil for heating and cooking.A Vat cut of some description would have been more beneficial. Sunak and Johnson do not live in the real world

[ronaldo7]

Oi Scotland, know your place. Even though we produced most of the energy in the UK, we also get lumbered with the highest price rises.

According to the BBC & ofgem standard charges for electricity meters are going up
Region. Cost Increase %Rise
London. 31p. 8p 38%
S Scotland. 47p. 24p 104%
N Scotland 48p. 22p 83%

Now, shut up and eat your cereal. :rolleyes:

[JimBHibees]

Oi Scotland, know your place. Even though we produced most of the energy in the UK, we also get lumbered with the highest price rises.

According to the BBC & ofgem standard charges for electricity meters are going up
Region. Cost Increase %Rise
London. 31p. 8p 38%
S Scotland. 47p. 24p 104%
N Scotland 48p. 22p 83%

Now, shut up and eat your cereal. :rolleyes:

What's the justification for the difference.?

[Moulin Yarns]

What's the justification for the difference.?

A few years old but probably explains it. Not that it's justified.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48532279.amp

[Kato]

What's the justification for the difference.?Because we vote to be taken as mugs?

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[ronaldo7]

What's the justification for the difference.?

I'm sure they'll come up with some justification, like the rural landscape of Scotland, or the population. The point is, we're being shafted again.

[WhileTheChief..]

What's the justification for the difference.?

More sparsely populated country, meaning longer pipes to get the stuff to people, meaning it costs more?

Plus it's colder up north so we use more?

Energy companies are picking on Scottish people?

[danhibees1875]

What's the justification for the difference.?

This article touches on it vaguely and provides a full list of the changes across all the regions:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60878314


The standing charge not only covers costs such network maintenance, administration fees and certain government schemes. It is also the part of your bill that will contribute to the cost of the 28 energy suppliers that have gone bust since last autumn amid a cost crunch sparked by sharply rising wholesale energy prices.

Ofgem told the BBC that the levy added to bills to pay for costs associated with energy suppliers going bust had been spread equally across the country.

It says standing charges in some regions are increasing more than others because of a reallocation of network costs, the level of which differs between distribution networks.

As to the reason for there being any differences to begin with I think there's economies of scale at play as sparser populated areas with hard to reach houses are a higher burden/cost than densely populated areas.

If you really want to delve into it, it looks like it may have been option 3 that this paper seemed to back:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2012/07/se_e.on-response_0.pdf

[Killiehibbie]

More sparsely populated country, meaning longer pipes to get the stuff to people, meaning it costs more?

Plus it's colder up north so we use more?

Energy companies are picking on Scottish people?

If we produce more the cables must be far longer to reach the south of England.
If we use more we should get a bulk discount.

[JimBHibees]

This article touches on it vaguely and provides a full list of the changes across all the regions:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60878314



As to the reason for there being any differences to begin with I think there's economies of scale at play as sparser populated areas with hard to reach houses are a higher burden/cost than densely populated areas.

If you really want to delve into it, it looks like it may have been option 3 that this paper seemed to back:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2012/07/se_e.on-response_0.pdf

What is the point of having a regulator when suppliers can move charges to be included in standard charges from unit charges with a cap? Absolute joke but I am sure our Uk government will do its best to soften the blow :rolleyes:

Would have thought this would have been a story Scottish news should have been covering given the regional differences.

[Moulin Yarns]

Don't forget to do meter readings today before the increase so you know how much energy you have used at the lower cost.

[Sergio sledge]

Don't forget to do meter readings today before the increase so you know how much energy you have used at the lower cost.

SSE's app is not working, neither is the "mySSE" part of the website so I can't access my account to submit a meter reading. I tried the automated meter reading line but it wouldn't let me submit the meter reading, so now I'm sitting in a queue to speak to an advisor, been on hold for 30 mins so far....

Seems very coincidental that the app and website aren't working just when everyone is wanting to submit meter readings...

[danhibees1875]

Seems very coincidental that the app and website aren't working just when everyone is wanting to submit meter readings...

To be fair, everyone trying to submit meter readings might be the cause of the problems. :greengrin

[Hibernian Verse]

British Gas app and website login is down too.

[Sergio sledge]

To be fair, everyone trying to submit meter readings might be the cause of the problems. :greengrin

Yeah, might be. I'm getting too cynical as I get older though... :greengrin

[Sylar]

If you have a smart meter, you can also just take a photograph of your meter readings and keep a hold of it.

[Sergio sledge]

If you have a smart meter, you can also just take a photograph of your meter readings and keep a hold of it.

We've got a smart meter, but for some reason SSE's smart meters don't work in our area. I've taken a few photos of it so I can let them know if I can't get through today.

Edit: There's an online meter readings submission form on SSE website for anyone in the same position as me: https://sse.co.uk/forms/meter-reading-form/energy-account-type

I've given up trying to get through on the phone.

[nonshinyfinish]

Octopus online account was really slow to log in as well but got there eventually. Almost certainly just volume of traffic today.

[Callum_62]

Sumbitted my gas reading last night via octopus and it showed no signs of any issues

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[HH81]

Scottish Power is the same. Was fast this morning but I thought I would wait a bit longer.

Now the app is running slow.

[WhileTheChief..]

If we use more we should get a bulk discount.

Not sure it works like that!

Folk filling up their Range Rover should pay less for diesel than someone filling up their VW Polo 'cause they're using more?

Same with folk that eat a lot in restaurants, they should get a discount for eating more?

[Callyballybe]

Same problems with E-on Next. App not working and can't log into website either.

On hold for 20 mins and counting. Not holding my breath. Will take photos of both meter readings.

[lapsedhibee]

Will take photos of both meter readings.

Don't forget to include today's newspaper with date clearly visible, like they do in Hollywood hostage videos.

[Hibernian Verse]

On my British Gas account I can't submit my Electricity reading but they definitely supply it...any ideas?

[Callyballybe]

Don't forget to include today's newspaper with date clearly visible, like they do in Hollywood hostage videos.

😂. Right after I'd posted on here, as if by magic, I got through to someone and they took both meter readings.

[HH81]

Mine worked in the end. Said I should reduce my DD but thought better leave it after they increased it recently.

[WhileTheChief..]

Got a txt from a random mobile number asking me to send my meter readings to it.

Possible scam maybe? I didn't do it, just throwing it out there as a warning.

[Scouse Hibee]

SSE's app is not working, neither is the "mySSE" part of the website so I can't access my account to submit a meter reading. I tried the automated meter reading line but it wouldn't let me submit the meter reading, so now I'm sitting in a queue to speak to an advisor, been on hold for 30 mins so far....

Seems very coincidental that the app and website aren't working just when everyone is wanting to submit meter readings...

Same with Shell Energy!

[skyehibee]

Same with Shell Energy!
I managed to get mine submitted this morning about 9am. Logged in via their website rather than the app.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm with Bulb, they have a queuing system. I got in and submitted readings then got an error message, however I did get an email from them saying they had got my readings.

[JohnM1875]

I'm with Bulb, they have a queuing system. I got in and submitted readings then got an error message, however I did get an email from them saying they had got my readings.

I'm with Bulb as well. Managed to submit my readings on tbe app no problem. Also haven't heard anything from them at all about my price going up. Weird.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm with Bulb as well. Managed to submit my readings on tbe app no problem. Also haven't heard anything from them at all about my price going up. Weird.

Check your email. I got notification on 25th Feb.

[JohnM1875]

Check your email. I got notification on 25th Feb.

Aye I have been since all this kicked off.

I got an email the other week there suggesting I raise my monthly DD, but if I couldn't then I was to let them know. I emailed them saying I couldn't afford to raise it just now and they said that was fine.

All a bit strange and expecting a hike in price soon.

[Scouse Hibee]

I managed to get mine submitted this morning about 9am. Logged in via their website rather than the app.

I have been trying since 11am with no success

[KeithTheHibby]

I’m in a fixed rate until the end of April with British Gas. Should I really worry too much until the end of the month?

[HH81]

I’m in a fixed rate until the end of April with British Gas. Should I really worry too much until the end of the month?

Nah but on last day of month get meter readings to them as these companies can't be trusted.

[Moulin Yarns]

A friend of mine who doesn't need to worry about the increase


https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbzn58AsPSd/?utm_medium=share_sheet

[Hibernia&Alba]

54% rise from today, with a further rise in October. Vulnerable people will die as a result, and energy is just one cost that is soaring.

[JimBHibees]

When are the UK government going to do anything about it to support their citizens. Despicable imo.

[Hibernia&Alba]

When are the UK government going to do anything about it to support their citizens. Despicable imo.

They aren't. They are only interested in looking after those who can give them large donations or offers of cushy second or third jobs. The rest of us are an inconvenience.

[hibsbollah]

When are the UK government going to do anything about it to support their citizens. Despicable imo.

France energy firms are state owned, they are passing on a 4% increase to their ‘customers’ because the Govt caps it. Because WE have flogged off the family silver and have no state owned assets anymore, face an average increase of 54% for **** sake people will die, go hungry and turn to crime. It’s actually beyond belief.

[Callyballybe]

This may have been covered previously in the thread (although I couldn't find it mentioned when I had a quick look) but with regards to renewables, why are they not being used as at least a partial replacement for energy instead of gas?

[Smartie]

This may have been covered previously in the thread (although I couldn't find it mentioned when I had a quick look) but with regards to renewables, why are they not being used as at least a partial replacement for energy instead of gas?

Storage issues (I think).

Renewables are all well and good when the wind is blowing but it’s still challenging to generate the energy when it’s available, store it for a bit, then use it when needed.

[Stairway 2 7]

France energy firms are state owned, they are passing on a 4% increase to their ‘customers’ because the Govt caps it. Because WE have flogged off the family silver and have no state owned assets anymore, face an average increase of 54% for **** sake people will die, go hungry and turn to crime. It’s actually beyond belief.
France were smart and went nuclear. 70% of their energy comes from nuclear and renewables pick up most of the rest. Because of this they aren't affected as much by the world wide gas price explosion

[danhibees1875]

Storage issues (I think).

Renewables are all well and good when the wind is blowing but it’s still challenging to generate the energy when it’s available, store it for a bit, then use it when needed.

That's my understanding - storage is a big issue.

I believe it can also be "too windy" at times, perhaps because of storage more than the physical wind.

Turbines are also the quickest/cheapest/easiest thing to turn off when the grid is at capacity. When they've generated enough they turn off a turbine which can be turned back on quickly, as opposed to shutting down a nuclear plant or whatever else.

[Col2]

France energy firms are state owned, they are passing on a 4% increase to their ‘customers’ because the Govt caps it. Because WE have flogged off the family silver and have no state owned assets anymore, face an average increase of 54% for **** sake people will die, go hungry and turn to crime. It’s actually beyond belief.

It’s beyond belief. It has to be the cruelest way to treat people in this country. The UK is meant to be the 5th or 9th richest in the world (I can’t remember which one). I listened to LBC James O’Brien show today and they dedicated a couple of hours of people calling in. Heartbreaking hearing poor pensioners who didn’t know what to do, inevitably at home and need to keep themselves warm and fed. Single mums who will go without, one saying she already just eats the kids leftovers rather than feed herself. This is now and it will get worse and worse.

How this chancellor can prioritise fiscal prudence over providing the basic level of support is just inexcusable. I am not a big Scot Govt fan but at least the FM has actually done something wider re support.

Now the usual pop up daily minister doing the media round is suggesting the chancellor is “watching the situation carefully” in effect teasing people and to wait until the last possible moment to throw them a bone. And tonight instead he has jumped on a plane to California for a two week holiday with his family.

Just about every other European country has done something to subsidize re energy crisis. In this country people are offered a discount which is in fact a loan. Meanwhile Wonderbra Michelle Mone makes about £70m profit from a dodgy PPE deal as part of Tory VIP lane. PPE that was never used as it didn’t make the NHS standard.

There is a place in hell waiting for these people. I just hope that the same people who were conned into voting for them don’t do the same again, no excuses. The worst of the worst governments, ever.

[Pretty Boy]

I can't remember the exact wording of the tweet but someone earlier said that Martin Lewis has gone from the guy who tells you what 2 for 1 deals to take or which to avoid to the guy who says 'here is where to go if you are starving or freezing to death' in the space of a decade.

Shameful and both the government and a huge chunk of the electorate (bizarrely including many who will be worst impacted) just don't care.

[hibeesjoe]

It’s beyond belief. It has to be the cruelest way to treat people in this country. The UK is meant to be the 5th or 9th richest in the world (I can’t remember which one). I listened to LBC James O’Brien show today and they dedicated a couple of hours of people calling in. Heartbreaking hearing poor pensioners who didn’t know what to do, inevitably at home and need to keep themselves warm and fed. Single mums who will go without, one saying she already just eats the kids leftovers rather than feed herself. This is now and it will get worse and worse.

How this chancellor can prioritise fiscal prudence over providing the basic level of support is just inexcusable. I am not a big Scot Govt fan but at least the FM has actually done something wider re support.

Now the usual pop up daily minister doing the media round is suggesting the chancellor is “watching the situation carefully” in effect teasing people and to wait until the last possible moment to throw them a bone. And tonight instead he has jumped on a plane to California for a two week holiday with his family.

Just about every other European country has done something to subsidize re energy crisis. In this country people are offered a discount which is in fact a loan. Meanwhile Wonderbra Michelle Mone makes about £70m profit from a dodgy PPE deal as part of Tory VIP lane. PPE that was never used as it didn’t make the NHS standard.

There is a place in hell waiting for these people. I just hope that the same people who were conned into voting for them don’t do the same again, no excuses. The worst of the worst governments, ever.Surely these dodgy PPE deals must have been illegal, or at the very least the government should be asking for the money back because the items are not fit for purpose. I've read about a few of these contracts and nothing seems to happen.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[LewysGot2]

I can't remember the exact wording of the tweet but someone earlier said that Martin Lewis has gone from the guy who tells you what 2 for 1 deals to take or which to avoid to the guys who says'here is where to go if you are starving or freezing to death' in the space of a decade.

Shameful and both the government and a huge chunk of the electorate (bizarrely including many who will be worst impacted) just don't care.

Yup, seems all that mattered was the charlatan in chief got Brexit done.
Stuff the consequences.

[Scorrie]

I see the Chancellor will be “watching the situation very carefully” from his other home in California next week. He doesn’t give a flying one. But this cost of living crisis is the sort of issue that brings down governments

[Pretty Boy]

I see the Chancellor will be “watching the situation very carefully” from his other home in California next week. He doesn’t give a flying one. But this cost of living crisis is the sort of issue that brings down governments

He said yesterday that he 'knows it's tough for people'.

Of course he is probably aware in a theoretical sense that it's tough for people but his lived experience of it is zero. He's never going to have to decide whether to skip a meal so his kids can eat or tell his wife to put on an extra jumper if she's cold because the heating going on is now a luxury.

He's no more aware of how tough it is than I am aware of the dilemna of whether to weekend in the Manor House in Yorkshire, the townhouse in London or the villa in Santa Monica.

[JimBHibees]

It’s beyond belief. It has to be the cruelest way to treat people in this country. The UK is meant to be the 5th or 9th richest in the world (I can’t remember which one). I listened to LBC James O’Brien show today and they dedicated a couple of hours of people calling in. Heartbreaking hearing poor pensioners who didn’t know what to do, inevitably at home and need to keep themselves warm and fed. Single mums who will go without, one saying she already just eats the kids leftovers rather than feed herself. This is now and it will get worse and worse.

How this chancellor can prioritise fiscal prudence over providing the basic level of support is just inexcusable. I am not a big Scot Govt fan but at least the FM has actually done something wider re support.

Now the usual pop up daily minister doing the media round is suggesting the chancellor is “watching the situation carefully” in effect teasing people and to wait until the last possible moment to throw them a bone. And tonight instead he has jumped on a plane to California for a two week holiday with his family.

Just about every other European country has done something to subsidize re energy crisis. In this country people are offered a discount which is in fact a loan. Meanwhile Wonderbra Michelle Mone makes about £70m profit from a dodgy PPE deal as part of Tory VIP lane. PPE that was never used as it didn’t make the NHS standard.

There is a place in hell waiting for these people. I just hope that the same people who were conned into voting for them don’t do the same again, no excuses. The worst of the worst governments, ever.

Sums it up perfectly. This government are and this is a word I never use in relation to people the absolute **** of the earth.

[Keyser Sauzee]

Just off the phone with SSE, no increase in my DD for either gas and electric until next review in October and I was in credit £300+ on both fuels so I’m getting a refund of £500 to leave some in credit. Fair chuffed with that, should say I’m in a 2 bed flat and I live on my own.

[LewysGot2]

Just off the phone with SSE, no increase in my DD for either gas and electric until next review in October and I was in credit £300+ on both fuels so I’m getting a refund of £500 to leave some in credit. Fair chuffed with that, should say I’m in a 2 bed flat and I live on my own.

That's positive

[Skol]

Just off the phone with SSE, no increase in my DD for either gas and electric until next review in October and I was in credit £300+ on both fuels so I’m getting a refund of £500 to leave some in credit. Fair chuffed with that, should say I’m in a 2 bed flat and I live on my own.

Last time I took some of my credit back, for unknown reasons they skipped a month on my DD and I was immediately due them money which was annoying. I have tended to let the credit run but if I think I can reduce the direct debit amount

[Kato]

No crisis for Tories getting donations from Oil companies


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/01/priti-patel-accepts-100000-donation-from-firm-run-by-oil-trader-pierre-andurand

Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-60922527

This sounds promising!

[Stairway 2 7]

https://www.ft.com/content/cc39da72-7c9c-4a4a-9d51-1049a9badcac

Could be a big step towards nuclear fusion energy

[Moulin Yarns]

Great, so in 25 years since they first managed to get fusion to work in any capacity they have doubled the outcome to 11Mw which lasted 5 seconds! I'm not holding my breath that it will be our saviour anytime soon.

[Stairway 2 7]

Great, so in 25 years since they first managed to get fusion to work in any capacity they have doubled the outcome to 11Mw which lasted 5 seconds! I'm not holding my breath that it will be our saviour anytime soon.

No they aren't trying to get a long length of time and the mw could be upscaled now but pointless. The problem isn't the output its always been the energy needed to get that output being higher. It will remain to be seen if this is the game changer, it's received millions of investment after the news. If it works they will build 150 megawatt plant that they say will be under 1 billion. Fingers crossed as its very low carbon and would help many nations cut down carbon

[Moulin Yarns]

No they aren't trying to get a long length of time and the mw could be upscaled now but pointless. The problem isn't the output its always been the energy needed to get that output being higher. It will remain to be seen if this is the game changer, it's received millions of investment after the news. If it works they will build 150 megawatt plant that they say will be under 1 billion. Fingers crossed as its very low carbon and would help many nations cut down carbon

I wonder how much concrete is needed to encase the reactor?


180 kg of CO2 per tonne of structural concrete.

[The_Exile]

I wonder how much concrete is needed to encase the reactor?


180 kg of CO2 per tonne of structural concrete.


I think it's widely accepted that no matter what method we use to generate energy, we are going to release a certain volume of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. We just need to pick the most efficient and offset as much as possible. Do that and massive good can be done for future generations.

[Moulin Yarns]

In other good news about renewable energy


https://www.facebook.com/833889136681178/posts/7113205302082832/

[Moulin Yarns]

Even more good news about renewable energy


https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/battery-renewable-energy-solar-wind-b2051485.html?amp

[Paul1642]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-60922527

This sounds promising!

Unfortunately the issue isn’t that many people can’t put solar panels on their roof, but rather can’t justify the huge cost which will never pay for it self in terms of energy produced.

[Bristolhibby]

Surely these dodgy PPE deals must have been illegal, or at the very least the government should be asking for the money back because the items are not fit for purpose. I've read about a few of these contracts and nothing seems to happen.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

I’d imagine that the quality provisions in the contracts would have been waived for speed.

Scandalous I know. Then the supplier can say I sent you x amount of gowns. Not my problem that they are not to standard.

Sounds like the system was geared up to fast track scrutiny, which means any ole ***** can get in (and don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there were thousands of contracts that delivered on time and to quality spec).

But for all their mates to get the inside line on the pile on is the real scandal.

J

[Moulin Yarns]

Unfortunately the issue isn’t that many people can’t put solar panels on their roof, but rather can’t justify the huge cost which will never pay for it self in terms of energy produced.

In that case the energy companies should install them. When I worked in planning I proposed that every new building should have solar panels as a matter of policy. The builders installed and it became part of the building costs.

[Stairway 2 7]

In that case the energy companies should install them. When I worked in planning I proposed that every new building should have solar panels as a matter of policy. The builders installed and it became part of the building costs.

It should be as standard although they probably would pass the cost on knowing them. Scotlands problem isn't when it's sunny and windy. It's when it's cloudy and still which is about half the time

[lapsedhibee]

It should be as standard although they probably would pass the cost on knowing them. Scotlands problem isn't when it's sunny and windy. It's when it's cloudy and still which is about half the time

Some people say we've been to the moon and back. Surely, then, we could build wind machines, like in Hollywood movies, to cover the periods when it's still?

[CropleyWasGod]

Any Bulb customers heard from them yet?

[GlesgaeHibby]

Unfortunately the issue isn’t that many people can’t put solar panels on their roof, but rather can’t justify the huge cost which will never pay for it self in terms of energy produced.

That's just not true - particularly given recent electricity cost rises.

I've got a 1.89kWp system on my south facing roof which generates around 1750kWh per year. I currently pay 27.8p/kWh for electricity from British Gas.

If I use half the electricity my solar panels produce that's £243.25 saved each year at current rates. I can also get the smart export guarantee at around 5.5p/kWh for units exported (as not used), generating £48 / year income. Total income = £291 / year (I still need to sort the smart export guarantee rate out for me, so I don't know exactly how much I use but I'd hope it would be more than half the generation, given I WFH and tend to hold off on putting the dishwasher or washing machine on until it's sunny).

You'd be able to get a 2kW system installed for about £3k, so a payback period of around 10 years - at current prices and based on the assumptions above. If electricity prices keep going up, or you can use more of the electricity you generate, then you'll pay the costs back even quicker.

Solar installers have never been busier.

[Stairway 2 7]

Some people say we've been to the moon and back. Surely, then, we could build wind machines, like in Hollywood movies, to cover the periods when it's still?

No idea. I'm sure the technology will catch up that we'll be able to be 100% renewable soon. That is Scotland of course because the knew tory bill is backbench led and ignores the need for onshore wind.

Its who's going to foot the bill to help the developing nations I suppose. T

[Stairway 2 7]

That's just not true - particularly given recent electricity cost rises.

I've got a 1.89kWp system on my south facing roof which generates around 1750kWh per year. I currently pay 27.8p/kWh for electricity from British Gas.

If I use half the electricity my solar panels produce that's £243.25 saved each year at current rates. I can also get the smart export guarantee at around 5.5p/kWh for units exported (as not used), generating £48 / year income. Total income = £291 / year (I still need to sort the smart export guarantee rate out for me, so I don't know exactly how much I use but I'd hope it would be more than half the generation, given I WFH and tend to hold off on putting the dishwasher or washing machine on until it's sunny).

You'd be able to get a 2kW system installed for about £3k, so a payback period of around 10 years - at current prices and based on the assumptions above. If electricity prices keep going up, or you can use more of the electricity you generate, then you'll pay the costs back even quicker.

Solar installers have never been busier.

Many Many people don't have anything spare never mind 3k that will save them money in 11 years. Government should subsidised, although those who will benefit the owners of detached/semi detached probably need the money less than the rest

[Stairway 2 7]

Billionaire won't even give us a loan of our own money

Richard Vaughan
@RichardVaughan1
·

💥Rishi Sunak blocked plans to save people hundreds £££ on their energy bills as part of the energy strategy, leaked draft shows
CHX scrapped proposal to increase energy rebate (loan) from £200 to "£500 or more"
Follows earlier reports from
@alexwickham

[Moulin Yarns]

Many Many people don't have anything spare never mind 3k that will save them money in 11 years. Government should subsidised, although those who will benefit the owners of detached/semi detached probably need the money less than the rest

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/financial-support/grants-and-loans/

Interest free loans, things are simple, you just need to look into it.

[Stairway 2 7]

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/financial-support/grants-and-loans/

Interest free loans, things are simple, you just need to look into it.

When people can't feed their kids, they aren't taking on a £3000 loan that will start making profit in 11 years. Its a very privileged view to be able to pay loans, but unfortunately another 400,000 people will be in poverty thanks to benefits not rising this year. The government should take the lead

[GlesgaeHibby]

Many Many people don't have anything spare never mind 3k that will save them money in 11 years. Government should subsidised, although those who will benefit the owners of detached/semi detached probably need the money less than the rest

I absolutely get that finding £3k would be a struggle for many. The point I was making is that if you can afford it, a PV system would pay for itself (contrary to the claims of the post I responded to), and then give you a number of years of free electricity.

[Stairway 2 7]

I absolutely get that finding £3k would be a struggle for many. The point I was making is that if you can afford it, a PV system would pay for itself (contrary to the claims of the post I responded to), and then give you a number of years of free electricity.

How much does it add too your home. If more than 3k it's good if under you'd have to be sure of staying there for 10 years. If you can afford it and are going to stay for decades, it's a no brainer

[Sergio sledge]

I absolutely get that finding £3k would be a struggle for many. The point I was making is that if you can afford it, a PV system would pay for itself (contrary to the claims of the post I responded to), and then give you a number of years of free electricity.

I'm in the process of trying to get PV installed and the costs you provided earlier are roughly right for what I am getting.

The loan is ~£3,000, over 5 years interest free, so £50 per month payments.

We have an air source heat pump and underfloor heating so use a lot of electricity, even during the day with the heating running at a low level so we're estimated to use most of the ~1,800 kWh generated per year ourselves. This should give us a saving of around £450 per year at current electricity costs. In reality that means that the panels are effectively going to cost us £12.50 per month for 5 years to install. That's not even taking into account the expected electricity costs rise in October (although things may drop again after that point).

I get that not everyone is in the position to take out a loan to pay it off, but the monthly payments are not massive in the right situation and in our case, payback is approximately 6.5 years at current electricity costs.

Perhaps there should be some sort of grant funding available for low income families rather than a loan?

Edit: I should add we are going to be in the house we are in until we get carried out in a casket so we'll get decades of use out of the panels so it makes sense for us.

[Moulin Yarns]

I'm in the process of trying to get PV installed and the costs you provided earlier are roughly right for what I am getting.

The loan is ~£3,000, over 5 years interest free, so £50 per month payments.

We have an air source heat pump and underfloor heating so use a lot of electricity, even during the day with the heating running at a low level so we're estimated to use most of the ~1,800 kWh generated per year ourselves. This should give us a saving of around £450 per year at current electricity costs. In reality that means that the panels are effectively going to cost us £12.50 per month for 5 years to install. That's not even taking into account the expected electricity costs rise in October (although things may drop again after that point).

I get that not everyone is in the position to take out a loan to pay it off, but the monthly payments are not massive in the right situation and in our case, payback is approximately 6.5 years at current electricity costs.

Perhaps there should be some sort of grant funding available for low income families rather than a loan?

Edit: I should add we are going to be in the house we are in until we get carried out in a casket so we'll get decades of use out of the panels so it makes sense for us.


I think the government should be paying for it, a lot cheaper than escalating costs and waiting 8 years for a nuclear power station to be built. If they are serious about energy security then it's a no brainer as well. I thinlk you are in Inverness and yet people think solar needs sunny days to work.

[Sergio sledge]

I think the government should be paying for it, a lot cheaper than escalating costs and waiting 8 years for a nuclear power station to be built. If they are serious about energy security then it's a no brainer as well. I thinlk you are in Inverness and yet people think solar needs sunny days to work.

Yeah just outside Inverness, it still works on overcast days, not as well, but it does still work. The problem comes when you wake up on days like today in April and there's 3 inches of snow on the roof... :greengrin

Reducing demand is a key part of energy security. Insulate Britain may have annoyed a lot of people with their tactics, but they were right about the need to insulate houses throughout the UK.

[WhileTheChief..]

Check out the Tesla Roof.

You'd never know it was made from solar panels...

https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/solarroof

[Mon Dieu4]

Check out the Tesla Roof.

You'd never know it was made from solar panels...

https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/solarroof

There are a few companies doing solar roof tiles these days, I saw a show on TV where some companies were putting them in blocks of flats and there was a battery and service room in the building, think it was part of getting the planning permission that they had to have them, good idea

[Moulin Yarns]

Check out the Tesla Roof.

You'd never know it was made from solar panels...

https://www.tesla.com/en_gb/solarroof


Good idea, but....


Disadvantages of solar tiles They cannot be installed on an existing roof. They are only suitable for new buildings, or for those who are comfortable with replacing all the tiles with solar ones. This is because solar and traditional shingles must be installed at the same time. Solar panels, on the other hand, can be installed even after your roof has been completed.
Not every roof is able to accommodate them. It must be pitched and angled very specifically for it to be eligible for solar tiles. In this case, also, solar panels have a better chance of being positioned even on what can be considered difficult roofs.
The initial cost of purchasing solar tiles is higher than that of the traditional asphalt ones. Currently, solar tiles are still a more expensive option than the traditional bolt-on panels, and are slightly less efficient. However, if you are already planning on constructing a new roof, the added cost of installing solar tiles might not be so large.





Solar tiles can cost at least twice as much as solar panels. For example, a 4kW solar tile system will typically cost between £12,000 and £16,000, while a 4kW solar panel system of usually costs £5,760.
Neither option is cheap, but the tiles will burn a much bigger hole in your wallet. Why are they so much more expensive than solar panels? The main reasons are:
• Newer technology
• Less competitive market
• Longer and more complex installation process.
It’s difficult to estimate exactly how much a solar tile system costs, as it depends on 1) the size of your roof, and 2) what proportion of the roof you’d like to be covered in solar tiles.



https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/solar-panels-versus-tesla-solar-roof/

There are other manufacturers of solar tiles, but I imagine the same applies.

[Callum_62]

I'm in the process of trying to get PV installed and the costs you provided earlier are roughly right for what I am getting.

The loan is ~£3,000, over 5 years interest free, so £50 per month payments.

We have an air source heat pump and underfloor heating so use a lot of electricity, even during the day with the heating running at a low level so we're estimated to use most of the ~1,800 kWh generated per year ourselves. This should give us a saving of around £450 per year at current electricity costs. In reality that means that the panels are effectively going to cost us £12.50 per month for 5 years to install. That's not even taking into account the expected electricity costs rise in October (although things may drop again after that point).

I get that not everyone is in the position to take out a loan to pay it off, but the monthly payments are not massive in the right situation and in our case, payback is approximately 6.5 years at current electricity costs.

Perhaps there should be some sort of grant funding available for low income families rather than a loan?

Edit: I should add we are going to be in the house we are in until we get carried out in a casket so we'll get decades of use out of the panels so it makes sense for us.

Interesting - we have some solar panels that came with our East/West facing house

I do wonder if its worthwhile increasing them but more likley adding a battery storage

Does anyone here have a solar/battery storage set up?

[Sergio sledge]

Interesting - we have some solar panels that came with our East/West facing house

I do wonder if its worthwhile increasing them but more likley adding a battery storage

Does anyone here have a solar/battery storage set up?

I believe the interest free loan available through Home Energy Scotland is available for battery storage. The key advantage would obviously be to maximise the amount of electricity you can generate and use in your house.

If you have an electric heating system the easiest and cheapest way to achieve the same effect would be to time your hot water to heat up during the day when the solar energy can be used for this. But that's not always an option. That's what we are going to do though, looked at batteries but us having a heat pump and underfloor heating means we generally have our heating running for longer through the day and so the batteries were going to take a lot longer to pay back.

[grunt]

Any Bulb customers heard from them yet?
Nope.

[grunt]

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/financial-support/grants-and-loans/

Interest free loans, things are simple, you just need to look into it.
Thanks for the link, very interesting. Starting to think about doing something along these lines.

[Colr]

Hydrogen will be gradually mixed into gas from 2026. When it gets to 20% hydrogen boilers, etc will beed replaced or modified.

I’m exploring a hybrid system which adds an air source heat pump to my heating and can flip between that and the boiler.

Seems the way to go. Hydrogen is likely to be as expensive as gas is becoming.

[Moulin Yarns]

24 hours solar generation?

https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0085205

If this works it could be a gamechanger!

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61051493?at_medium=custom7&at_custom4=C3143FEE-B821-11EC-B4D7-29780EDC252D&at_campaign=64&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom3=%40BBCScotlandNews&at_custom2=twitter

Food shortages on the way. This is a global issue and we are going to see massive uprisings and wars all over Africa, Asia and the Middle East.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/wallstreetsilv/status/1512845259104997378?s=21&t=IT8tFBkVHiflXGjUFVH7hg

Rioting in Peru over food and fuel shortages.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[patch1875]

Any Bulb customers heard from them yet?

Bulb said to me that I was staying the same and reviewed in 3 months/

I submitted meter readings on the 31st. Went into my account a few days ago and it’s now saying I’m paying too little so suggesting to change from £125 to £175 I’m also a couple of hundred in credit.

I changed to £175 no point in delaying the inevitable.

[McD]

Has anyone seen this thing going round on social media about everyone switching off everything electric at 10pm tonight?

would it make any difference? I just don’t know

[danhibees1875]

Has anyone seen this thing going round on social media about everyone switching off everything electric at 10pm tonight?

would it make any difference? I just don’t know

To be honest, not much more difference than it would have made to your bills had you done the same thing last year, which I suspect isn't very much (and even less as a % of your overall bill).
The increase in cost for electricity is coming through the standing charge as opposed to the per unit rate so there's not much you can do from a consumption perspective to combat the increase in price for electricity.

Gas is the other way around, so you can be a bit more careful about how you use that in order to try to save a bit here and there but I'm sceptical as to how much someone would actually be able to save with little tweaks here and there.

Edit: unless this is some form of peaceful protest idea as opposed to something designed to save money on the bills and I've totally misunderstood the question!

[McD]

To be honest, not much more difference than it would have made to your bills had you done the same thing last year, which I suspect isn't very much (and even less as a % of your overall bill).
The increase in cost for electricity is coming through the standing charge as opposed to the per unit rate so there's not much you can do from a consumption perspective to combat the increase in price for electricity.

Gas is the other way around, so you can be a bit more careful about how you use that in order to try to save a bit here and there but I'm sceptical as to how much someone would actually be able to save with little tweaks here and there.

Edit: unless this is some form of peaceful protest idea as opposed to something designed to save money on the bills and I've totally misunderstood the question!


hahaha yeah sorry mate, not worded the best by me, your edit is correct. It’s supposed to be some kind of protest to rising costs and to hold the energy companies feet to the fire hon pun intended), partly through losing revenue (not sure how much) and the hassle of a major surge on the grid when everyone switches back on. No idea if it will be of any benefit or not :dunno:

[danhibees1875]

hahaha yeah sorry mate, not worded the best by me, your edit is correct. It’s supposed to be some kind of protest to rising costs and to hold the energy companies feet to the fire hon pun intended), partly through losing revenue (not sure how much) and the hassle of a major surge on the grid when everyone switches back on. No idea if it will be of any benefit or not :dunno:

:aok:

That doesn't sound like it'll hit their pockets very deeply - especially with the limited number of people that would join in.

I'm not sure if trying to send a surge to the grid helps anyone either really. :greengrin

[McD]

:aok:

That doesn't sound like it'll hit their pockets very deeply - especially with the limited number of people that would join in.

I'm not sure if trying to send a surge to the grid helps anyone either really. :greengrin


pretty much my thoughts as well :greengrin

[wookie70]

I believe the interest free loan available through Home Energy Scotland is available for battery storage. The key advantage would obviously be to maximise the amount of electricity you can generate and use in your house.

If you have an electric heating system the easiest and cheapest way to achieve the same effect would be to time your hot water to heat up during the day when the solar energy can be used for this. But that's not always an option. That's what we are going to do though, looked at batteries but us having a heat pump and underfloor heating means we generally have our heating running for longer through the day and so the batteries were going to take a lot longer to pay back.

Battery storage is an interest free loan. I had a great call with them to discuss options. There are grants for other green energies but none were really possible for me. I must have phoned 10 companies about a month ago and not one has got back to me.

[Moulin Yarns]

http://isleofeigg.org/eigg-electric/

That's the way to go!!!!!

No increase in bills.

[lapsedhibee]

http://isleofeigg.org/eigg-electric/

That's the way to go!!!!!

No increase in bills.

Very interesting, thanks. No wonder the English are so keen to keep Scotland (well not Scotland exactly, but its natural resources) locked in.

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-12/sri-lanka-to-stop-some-foreign-debt-payments-government-says?sref=5dj0X2VO

Sri Lanka now defaulting on its debt in order to pay for food and fuel.
Here we will have a cost of living crisis, in some places they will have a starvation crisis.


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[Stairway 2 7]

Inflation is massive all over the world, oil and gas prices are massive, staff shortages due to lack of world travel, international haulage problems, China's impending lockdowns will hit world supplies, Ukraine war will effect food supplies around the world.

It's said the Ukraine and Russian harvest problems and subsequent price rises caused the Arab spring, God knows what all this will cause in the coming years

[Ozyhibby]

Inflation is massive all over the world, oil and gas prices are massive, staff shortages due to lack of world travel, international haulage problems, China's impending lockdowns will hit world supplies, Ukraine war will effect food supplies around the world.

It's said the Ukraine and Russian harvest problems and subsequent price rises caused the Arab spring, God knows what all this will cause in the coming years

Price of fertiliser and weed killer now unaffordable for a lot of farmers globally. Means that yields will drop massively over next few years. Food prices only going one way when that happens.


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[JimBHibees]

Price of fertiliser and weed killer now unaffordable for a lot of farmers globally. Means that yields will drop massively over next few years. Food prices only going one way when that happens.


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Saying on news yesterday milk prices could increase by 50%

[WhileTheChief..]

Price of fertiliser and weed killer now unaffordable for a lot of farmers globally. Means that yields will drop massively over next few years. Food prices only going one way when that happens.


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Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are all major exporters of nitrates and potash. There are countries in Africa that rely 100% on Russian wheat that now can't get it.

Shipping is grinding to a halt in St Petersberg, Novorossiysk and Sochi as they can't get insured. Some captains / crew are refusing to go to these ports.

When the sanctions start to bite, life in Russia is going to get extremely hard and they are going to feel it.

[WhileTheChief..]

China's impending lockdowns will hit world supplies,
It's said the Ukraine and Russian harvest problems and subsequent price rises caused the Arab spring, God knows what all this will cause in the coming years

I was reading last night that their vaccine just doesn't work against the omicron variant.

On the news, it showed rioting and looting in China. I don't remember seeing that 2 years ago.

China's 'glory' days are ending soon. Their whole economy is built on debt with employers being told to concentate on full employment over anything else. This makes them hugely inefficient and they just borrow more and more to keep paying wages.

With their ageing population crisis about to kick in, they're screwed.

They've also seen how well the west can unite and can forget about any thoughts they had of Taiwan now.

[Smartie]

Whilst it’s tempting to point out how everyone else is screwed, we’re an island nation who rely on importing all sorts of stuff.

There’s a period of change coming that will see a whole lot getting torn up and chucked in the air. It will be interesting to see where it all settles but I’d be surprised if we (Scotland, the UK, the West) will be immune to pretty major disruption.

[Ozyhibby]

Whilst it’s tempting to point out how everyone else is screwed, we’re an island nation who rely on importing all sorts of stuff.

There’s a period of change coming that will see a whole lot getting torn up and chucked in the air. It will be interesting to see where it all settles but I’d be surprised if we (Scotland, the UK, the West) will be immune to pretty major disruption.

There is no doubt we are in for a rough ride and we have made it harder for ourselves but it’s nothing like the pain that will be felt in the developing world.


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[greenginger]

http://isleofeigg.org/eigg-electric/

That's the way to go!!!!!

No increase in bills.


Maximum 5kw per household, enough to run a washing machine and boil a kettle at the same time.

[Kato]

https://twitter.com/MikeHudema/status/1513661223006527491?t=iirQAnKEkJoXQgc4eNvBFw&s=19

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[easty]

It's probably been covered already on this thread, but I can't find it - why is it that the standing charge has gone up so much for electricity?

I understand that the price of gas is up, so we pay more for gas. That makes sense to me.

Why am I now paying 47.28p a day just for the privilage of having electricity, when I only had to pay 23.672p per day before?

[Moulin Yarns]

Maximum 5kw per household, enough to run a washing machine and boil a kettle at the same time.

Also more than they need. 😁

[Hibs4185]

I’m far from a socialist or the like but it is incredible that we cannot be self sufficient in this country.

I have a house in France and there is only one choice of electricity suppler…EDF.

EDF took over Torness and immediately all suppliers and company vehicles etc changed to being French. The brits would never get away with that in France.

EDF I’m sure are partly state owned, why can’t we have a partially state owned electricity company? I know public ownership is seen as expensive and cumbersome, but how does EDF make it work and also have the profits to expand elsewhere?

Same as Peugeot, the french government are shareholders.

I know ‘market Forces’ dictate the prices but let’s face it Shell etc are producing the oil at the same price as they were, what’s different is the market says it’s £100 a barell rather than £50. The CEO of shell said they’re making so much money just now they don’t know what to do with it.

This is where a windfall tax as suggested by Labour makes perfect sense. I understand why the Tories are against it but it’s not morally acceptable.

We have the resources, they just need better managed and for the benefit of the country and the people, not just for CEO’s and shareholders.

PS I know that is what Labour are all about but I wouldn’t trust them to run anything.

[Jones28]

It's probably been covered already on this thread, but I can't find it - why is it that the standing charge has gone up so much for electricity?

I understand that the price of gas is up, so we pay more for gas. That makes sense to me.

Why am I now paying 47.28p a day just for the privilage of having electricity, when I only had to pay 23.672p per day before?

They just looked for any way to increase the standing charge and not bring it back down again if prices ever drop.

It's profiteering.

[greenginger]

Also more than they need. 😁

only 2 domestic appliances per household ? They’re not that primitive.

What do the do for heat and hot water ?

[Andy Bee]

It's probably been covered already on this thread, but I can't find it - why is it that the standing charge has gone up so much for electricity?

I understand that the price of gas is up, so we pay more for gas. That makes sense to me.

Why am I now paying 47.28p a day just for the privilage of having electricity, when I only had to pay 23.672p per day before?


Apparently it's to cover people who were in credit with companies that went bust taking the credit with them. So basically, if true, we're all paying for the shortfall in credit the energy companies lost.

[Moulin Yarns]

only 2 domestic appliances per household ? They’re not that primitive.

What do the do for heat and hot water ?

Give it a rest and read the full article!!!


They generate more electricity than they can use!

You have picked a very small and insignificant part of the article. Boil a kettle ~ 5 minutes, washing machine cycle ~ 40 minutes. That leaves 23 hours and 15 minutes to watch netflix!!! 😁

[Stairway 2 7]

I was reading last night that their vaccine just doesn't work against the omicron variant.

On the news, it showed rioting and looting in China. I don't remember seeing that 2 years ago.

China's 'glory' days are ending soon. Their whole economy is built on debt with employers being told to concentate on full employment over anything else. This makes them hugely inefficient and they just borrow more and more to keep paying wages.

With their ageing population crisis about to kick in, they're screwed.

They've also seen how well the west can unite and can forget about any thoughts they had of Taiwan now.

It's not that they don't work if there wasn't AZ or pfizer they would be great but they are a level bellow. They stop severe disease pretty well but stopping actually getting Omicron is almost 0%. In some nations they would be OK with that but China wants zero cases ridiculously, seeing as omi is so transmissible.

The other problem they have zero past infection. So between no population immunity and no mrna vaccines, they are going to have massive spikes constantly the next year. This means massive lockdowns.

Lockdowns are mental. If you catch it 3 weeks in a detention centre with horrible conditions, all family members and contacts spend 3 weeks in hotel quarantine also. Full lockdown for whole population in the house 24 hours, no going outside for a walk or to the shops. Only a couple of jobs eventual, factories that aren't power or water closed ect.

Factories constantly locked down the next year well effect everyone

[Stairway 2 7]

Give it a rest and read the full article!!!


They generate more electricity than they can use!

You have picked a very small and insignificant part of the article. Boil a kettle ~ 5 minutes, washing machine cycle ~ 40 minutes. That leaves 23 hours and 15 minutes to watch netflix!!! 😁

It's OK for a small community with miles of space and small industry haulage and other things cities need. We need things that can power the masses. All the islands deliveries and outside goods they use will have a carbon footprint elsewhere. Its brilliant though and well done to them, the more the merrier

[The_Exile]

If you've any space in your garden, get a couple of raised beds and learn to grow some produce. Everybody should have the opportunity to grow food if they want to. The fact there's hardly any land for allotments (I've been on a waiting list for 8 years for example) is absolutely criminal. However, there might be no choice soon.

[danhibees1875]

It's probably been covered already on this thread, but I can't find it - why is it that the standing charge has gone up so much for electricity?

I understand that the price of gas is up, so we pay more for gas. That makes sense to me.

Why am I now paying 47.28p a day just for the privilage of having electricity, when I only had to pay 23.672p per day before?

The official line is this:

1) The cost of moving everyone whose firm went bust to new suppliers.

2) Increases in fixed network costs (the cost of maintaining the energy networks).

3) An increase in policy costs (such as green levies and the rise in the warm home discount rebate).

[Stairway 2 7]

If you've any space in your garden, get a couple of raised beds and learn to grow some produce. Everybody should have the opportunity to grow food if they want to. The fact there's hardly any land for allotments (I've been on a waiting list for 8 years for example) is absolutely criminal. However, there might be no choice soon.

Last year I must have spent 100 quid and 100 hours on a harvest I could have got from aldi for a quid. Flowers this year, least I'm helping the bees

[danhibees1875]

Last year I must have spent 100 quid and 100 hours on a harvest I could have got from aldi for a quid. Flowers this year, least I'm helping the bees

I just grow strawberries - at least they're relatively expensive at the shop so worth it when I get a few. They're also low maintenance and hardy over the winter.

They taste better too. I think because the variety I have is for flavour as opposed to the supermarket ones which are for shelf life.

[The_Exile]

Last year I must have spent 100 quid and 100 hours on a harvest I could have got from aldi for a quid. Flowers this year, least I'm helping the bees

I guess my point is, if it all goes to ****, you'll have hopefully had your failures and frustrations out the way and be able to grow enough to sustain yourself, if need be, as getting stuff from Aldi for a quid might not be an option soon.

[Stairway 2 7]

I guess my point is, if it all goes to ****, you'll have hopefully had your failures and frustrations out the way and be able to grow enough to sustain yourself, if need be, as getting stuff from Aldi for a quid might not be an option soon.

I think you can survive without food for 4 weeks. I'd be able to keep my family alive for about 4 weeks and 2 days

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220413/caa19bf69770c5b55083859dbb20f0ee.jpg

It’s going to be a rough couple of years in UK and a lot worse elsewhere.


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[Stairway 2 7]

Bread is easy to make and tastes better. That's if people can afford to put the oven on mind you. Grim times

[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/observatoryly/status/1515989855947436032?s=21&t=4jY6-tsudn0decmNJGiqwQ
Libya having problems supplying oil now.


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[wookie70]

Maximum 5kw per household, enough to run a washing machine and boil a kettle at the same time.

That should be the case for every new housing development built, they should all be self sufficient in at least electricity but better still heating too.

[Stairway 2 7]

That should be the case for every new housing development built, they should all be self sufficient in at least electricity but better still heating too.

Expensive though. The new smaller nuclear reactors could heat and power 1 million homes for 1.5 billion. £1,500 for each home a fraction of the cost of having a sustainable home and work all year round. You can see why governments also need big plants.

Fact is technology just isn't there to store all year round power yet, hopefully soon. In the meantime we need something to replace the oil and gas we use, particularly in winter

[Mon Dieu4]

I phoned British Gas at the start of the month and told them I had been paying 6 monthly(not my choice but long story about their previous service) and wanted to switch to monthly, they ask me for my energy usage, calculate the cost and pay them

Cleared my entire balance at the start of the month and 2 weeks later was checking my bank today and they have taken the exact same amount again which isn't a insignificant amount

Called them and read the riot act, they've effectively done the complete opposite of what id asked earlier in the month and taken money from my account I didn't authorise them to do, I appreciate it wasn't the guy I spoke to today's fault but when he told me I'd get my refund within 3-5 days I told him it wasn't acceptable and I needed the money today(I don't but what if I did)

Raised it as a complaint and will see what they come back to me with, begs the question that if I'm going to end up paying a fortune anyway then what's the point in me showing any loyalty to a company that have ****ed me over on 2 or 3 occasions now

[wookie70]

Expensive though. The new smaller nuclear reactors could heat and power 1 million homes for 1.5 billion. £1,500 for each home a fraction of the cost of having a sustainable home and work all year round. You can see why governments also need big plants.

Fact is technology just isn't there to store all year round power yet, hopefully soon. In the meantime we need something to replace the oil and gas we use, particularly in winter

New houses have to be very well insulated and the economy of scale when purchasing panels and being able to fit as the house is being built would mean solar would be an option for the bulk of power use, heat pumps etc also much easier to install at the building stage too and batteries getting cheaper all the time. No reason why it can't be free at the point of purchase and the payments come as a burden on the house over a long period. Zero emissions and if paid over a long time potentially fairly cheap per month with no cost increases.

[Stairway 2 7]

New houses have to be very well insulated and the economy of scale when purchasing panels and being able to fit as the house is being built would mean solar would be an option for the bulk of power use, heat pumps etc also much easier to install at the building stage too and batteries getting cheaper all the time. No reason why it can't be free at the point of purchase and the payments come as a burden on the house over a long period. Zero emissions and if paid over a long time potentially fairly cheap per month with no cost increases.

I agree it's something that should be a standard, especially heat pumps. The problem also is the pathetic amount of housing that is built, especially social

[Moulin Yarns]

I agree it's something that should be a standard, especially heat pumps. The problem also is the pathetic amount of housing that is built, especially social

Not sure about other council areas, but Perth and Kinross require 25% of any development of more than 5 houses to be affordable. A long term development of 3,500 houses is being built to the north of Perth equates to 875 low cost homes. Some may be for sale but the majority are for rent.

[Stairway 2 7]

Not sure about other council areas, but Perth and Kinross require 25% of any development of more than 5 houses to be affordable. A long term development of 3,500 houses is being built to the north of Perth equates to 875 low cost homes. Some may be for sale but the majority are for rent.

Thanks to Thatcher selling off the housing stock and not replacing, we need millions of homes. Have you seen how high cost low cost housing can be. The waiting lists for council housing is ridiculous and private rents appalling

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-61174817

Aye, nuclear energy is the future! Even when it is no longer working and is being decommissioned it released radioactive material. Even a small amount is too much.

[Stairway 2 7]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-61174817

Aye, nuclear energy is the future! Even when it is no longer working and is being decommissioned it released radioactive material. Even a small amount is too much.

😆 big news story that

[Keyser Sauzee]

Just off the phone with SSE, no increase in my DD for either gas and electric until next review in October and I was in credit £300+ on both fuels so I’m getting a refund of £500 to leave some in credit. Fair chuffed with that, should say I’m in a 2 bed flat and I live on my own.

Still not received anything in regards to my refund of around £500, phoned them up today and they are claiming that the money has been released but I have checked and doubled checked my bank and I have not received anything, anybody had similar issues in the past??

[Ozyhibby]

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/30/us/new-york-crime-safety-fears/index.html

As prices continue to rise, so will crime and disorder. And not just in New York. This will be global.


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[Ozyhibby]

https://twitter.com/edconwaysky/status/1526461582850543621?s=21&t=kUqi4dsl8MWhVpLNrmPLJg

Too much gas now yet prices stay high.


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[Jones28]

https://twitter.com/edconwaysky/status/1526461582850543621?s=21&t=kUqi4dsl8MWhVpLNrmPLJg

Too much gas now yet prices stay high.


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They go up at the drop of a hat, but come down at a glacial pace.

Thanks Privatised energy companies.

[Andy Bee]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, the price cap review is going to change to every 3 months instead of every 6 months after the October rise so reviewed again around Jan/Feb BUT the Jan review will be calculated over the previous 6 months not 3 so will include the highest prices we've seen. So the Jan cap is going to be at least as high as October even if wholesale gas prices fall?

[SHODAN]

Literally the only moral thing to do in this situation is a 100% tax on any profit directly incurred as a result of the energy crisis, used immediately to offset any rise in energy prices.

They won't do it, though, because their mates run those companies. And that goes for Labour too.

[SHODAN]

They go up at the drop of a hat, but come down at a glacial pace.

Thanks Privatised energy companies.

They won't ever come down. This is the reality now.

One capitalism is used to the price of a commodity they won't ever lower it.

[cabbageandribs1875]

shame on every single one of them Tories vote down windfall tax that could save you £600 (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/tories-vote-down-windfall-tax-that-could-save-you-600/ar-AAXo51a?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3aa1a1bf082e455cb1d26ff28f046273) what kind of people vote this s*um in

Tory MPs have voted down a bid to impose a windfall tax on gas giants that Labour says could save struggling families £600 this year.
The opposition party tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech backing a one-off levy on North Sea firms to help people who have been plunged into poverty amid the cost of living crisis.
But MPs rejected the move by 310 votes to 248.

[Callum_62]

shame on every single one of them Tories vote down windfall tax that could save you £600 (msn.com) (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/tories-vote-down-windfall-tax-that-could-save-you-600/ar-AAXo51a?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3aa1a1bf082e455cb1d26ff28f046273) what kind of people vote this s*um in

Tory MPs have voted down a bid to impose a windfall tax on gas giants that Labour says could save struggling families £600 this year.
The opposition party tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech backing a one-off levy on North Sea firms to help people who have been plunged into poverty amid the cost of living crisis.
But MPs rejected the move by 310 votes to 248.Why would they do that when we can all just get better paid jobs which will bring in more money to them in tax

A perfect solution

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[Pretty Boy]

Why would they do that when we can all just get better paid jobs which will bring in more money to them in tax

A perfect solution

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But you shouldn't dare take a pay rise because if you do you are single handedly responsible for inflation.

Everyday I am increasingly convinced we are just being laughed at by those with power and influence. The worst part is a lot of people either don't seem to care or actively support the laissez faire attitude towards the current crisis.

I've always argued the genius, such as it is, of the Tories is twofold. Firstly they have convinced people earning £30K a year who have a mortgage that they have more in common with a millionaire Etonian than they do with a single parent household who needs a bit additional support. They really don't. Secondly they have convinced people that there is something inherently noble about working a 40 hour week for a wage that isn't fit for purpose. It's something some people even boast about. The simple fact is that the 'living wage' now isn't enough for a lot of people to meet their basic needs, never mind afford luxuries. There is nothing noble about that, it's scandalous.

It's not even unique to the Tories. Pretty much any party that subscribes to the current economic consensus has to shoulder a part of the blame. They might tinker with a few bits and bobs to make life more tolerable but ultimately it's the same failed system that exploits the majority for the benefit of a few. It's a situation that has been running out of control since the mid 80s and is reaching the point of becoming unsustainable,

[SHODAN]

What do we realistically expect this windfall tax to translate into? If it's a cheeky £10 off a month or a one-off payment of £100 or something then it's just lip service.

[nonshinyfinish]

What do we realistically expect this windfall tax to translate into? If it's a cheeky £10 off a month or a one-off payment of £100 or something then it's just lip service.

Don't know if this is expected to be everything or just part of it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61584546


The government is to scrap a plan to give people £200 off bills from October which would be repaid over five years.

Instead, the BBC understands that sum will be increased and possibly doubled, and will not need to be paid back.

Additional help for those on the lowest incomes is also expected.

[Moulin Yarns]

I have electric underfloor heating, at the moment it's on in the bathroom and shower room and living room. Yesterday I went round and reduced the time it's on in each room by 90 minutes to see if it makes a difference to the bill and if it's noticeably cooler. Currently paying £482 a month!

[SHODAN]

Don't know if this is expected to be everything or just part of it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61584546

So a one-off payment of £400 then. £33ish a month.

****in' cheek of them having us initially repay it too.

[The_Exile]

The whole thing is a load of bollocks. Inflation for me isn't anywhere near this fabled 9%, it feels more like 30% for the budget I'm on. I'm entitled to nothing as a non-resident parent, have the kids 2-3 nights a week and they go from comfort at their mums to pretty much poverty at mine which is galling as I've worked practically every day since I left school in the 90's, there is no help out there for vast swathes of the population, so many people out there just do not exist with these measures. £400 will keep the wolves from the door for a fortnight if you're lucky. My advice to my own kids as they're about to embark on their adult lives is learn a trade and a language and get away from this utter train wreck of a country, run and never look back.

[SHODAN]

The whole thing is a load of bollocks. Inflation for me isn't anywhere near this fabled 9%, it feels more like 30% for the budget I'm on. I'm entitled to nothing as a non-resident parent, have the kids 2-3 nights a week and they go from comfort at their mums to pretty much poverty at mine which is galling as I've worked practically every day since I left school in the 90's, there is no help out there for vast swathes of the population, so many people out there just do not exist with these measures. £400 will keep the wolves from the door for a fortnight if you're lucky. My advice to my own kids as they're about to embark on their adult lives is learn a trade and a language and get away from this utter train wreck of a country, run and never look back.

My kids will have an EU passport via Mum so at least they'll have an out. Most won't.

The absolute ****show the world is going to be in 20 years makes me apprehensive to even have children at all.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The whole thing is a load of bollocks. Inflation for me isn't anywhere near this fabled 9%, it feels more like 30% for the budget I'm on. I'm entitled to nothing as a non-resident parent, have the kids 2-3 nights a week and they go from comfort at their mums to pretty much poverty at mine which is galling as I've worked practically every day since I left school in the 90's, there is no help out there for vast swathes of the population, so many people out there just do not exist with these measures. £400 will keep the wolves from the door for a fortnight if you're lucky. My advice to my own kids as they're about to embark on their adult lives is learn a trade and a language and get away from this utter train wreck of a country, run and never look back.

:agree:

I’m more and more inclined each year that goes by to get out of Britain if possible. The place is a ****ing disaster.

[Smartie]

:agree:

I’m more and more inclined each year that goes by to get out of Britain if possible. The place is a ****ing disaster.

I think the same, until I look at the state of most of the alternatives.

The grass isn't always that much greener.

I've been working again this week with someone who is half Hungarian, half Brazilian (quite a pair of leaders in those countries). She's loved Scotland but she has had serious conversations with her (Brazilian) partner regarding whether Brazil might be a better place for them.

Which wouldn't have been the case just a couple of short years ago.

[Paul1642]

:agree:

I’m more and more inclined each year that goes by to get out of Britain if possible. The place is a ****ing disaster.

It really isn’t at all. It’s frustrating because it could be much better, but the standard of living here is a lot better than most places.

[Ozyhibby]

It really isn’t at all. It’s frustrating because it could be much better, but the standard of living here is a lot better than most places.

Agree. There are much better countries that we could be copying but there also a whole lot more worse examples.


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[Pretty Boy]

How are these payments actually going to work? Is it a one off payment to the end user or a calculated discount on your energy bills each week/month/quarter?

[Moulin Yarns]

How are these payments actually going to work? Is it a one off payment to the end user or a calculated discount on your energy bills each week/month/quarter?

Apparently, direct debit payers get it credited to the account, pre payment meters will have it added.

Got that from the BBC website.

[greenlex]

So the government tax the companies to give a little bit of help to the companies customers who in turn give it back to the companies? What have I missed?

[lapsedhibee]

So the government tax the companies to give a little bit of help to the companies customers who in turn give it back to the companies? What have I missed?

The point. Which is to get Johnson off the front page for a day or two. (Which I know you haven't actually missed :wink:)

[Ozyhibby]

So the government tax the companies to give a little bit of help to the companies customers who in turn give it back to the companies? What have I missed?

It is also massively inflationary so it will likely result in interest rates getting put up later in the year. Might have been a better idea to drop VAT from fuel bills which is deflationary.


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[SChibs]

All this going on whilst the energy companies profits are described as 'soaring'. As usual the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.

[Jones28]

There’s a woman on the Nine at the moment talking about investors being spooked and worried about investing further in the industry, I think it’s laughable that organisations whos profits are soaring as a result of increases are trying to argue against any sort of ONE OFF levy on profits.

[Just Alf]

There’s a woman on the Nine at the moment talking about investors being spooked and worried about investing further in the industry, I think it’s laughable that organisations whos profits are soaring as a result of increases are trying to argue against any sort of ONE OFF levy on profits.And it's on their EXTRA profits, as it stands they get to keep their planned profits (part of which they'd committed to reinvest so the windfall element doesn't even impact that)

[Jones28]

And it's on their EXTRA profits, as it stands they get to keep their planned profits (part of which they'd committed to reinvest so the windfall element doesn't even impact that)

It’s utterly laughable.

And someone on question time pointed out that the government is still nicking VAT on the energy. 5% it may be - but there’s a saving for everyone as well.

[ronaldo7]

There’s a woman on the Nine at the moment talking about investors being spooked and worried about investing further in the industry, I think it’s laughable that organisations whos profits are soaring as a result of increases are trying to argue against any sort of ONE OFF levy on profits.

I never caught it but I'd hazard a guess that it was Dierdre Michie. She's constantly rolled out when the industry is under the cosh regarding getting taxed more and pleads poverty.

[Jim44]

I am with Scottish Power and pay by DD. My new annual contract has just started but I notice that my monthly payments for both gas and electricity have not noticeably increased from what I was paying last year. With the recent alarming price increases, I was expecting them to rise substantially. Am I in for a shock with a huge increase in the very near future?

[The_Exile]

I got offered a 12 month fix today from my current supplier (Eon Next) and I am tempted to take it. Currently paying £122 and with prices widely expected to go up 46% in October that would take it up to close to £180 this winter. This new fix deal fixes me in at £140 for 12 months when hopefully prices will fall. Think I'm going to pull the trigger and go for it, short term pain though at a time when things are already tight. What an absolute state the country is in.

[Stairway 2 7]

I got offered a 12 month fix today from my current supplier (Eon Next) and I am tempted to take it. Currently paying £122 and with prices widely expected to go up 46% in October that would take it up to close to £180 this winter. This new fix deal fixes me in at £140 for 12 months when hopefully prices will fall. Think I'm going to pull the trigger and go for it, short term pain though at a time when things are already tight. What an absolute state the country is in.

Aye that sounds a decent gamble as they seem to think it's a given the huge rise

[.Sean.]

I’m currently with Scottish Power for my gas and electricity, £148 for my flat per month. If I want to get on a fixed tarriff my best offer is £245 a month 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[The_Exile]

I’m currently with Scottish Power for my gas and electricity, £148 for my flat per month. If I want to get on a fixed tarriff my best offer is £245 a month 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I think OVO just released an open market (i.e. you don't need to be an existing customer) fixed tarriff today so might be worth checking that out if you know how much gas and leccy you use mate. Hopefully more energy companies release fixes to the open market soon as I think most good fixes at the moment are existing customers only and Scottish Power aren't one of the good ones at present. I'm signed up to the Martin Lews cheap energy club and I got an email today with a list of decent fixes to consider, would be worth signing up to keep an eye on things if nothing else :aok:

[Mon Dieu4]

I’m currently with Scottish Power for my gas and electricity, £148 for my flat per month. If I want to get on a fixed tarriff my best offer is £245 a month 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Pre increase I was about £51 a month, since then I'm now on the standard tariff which has put it up to about £80, the cheapest I'm being offered to fix is £152 a month for a one bedroom house

[hibsbollah]

That's the price of unleaded gone up 2p in ONE DAY, first time thats ever happened. I got rid of my car in November, a when petrol was £1.46 and THAT was considered high at the time. Its now £1.80, what, seven months later, thats up over 20%? Two years ago it was £1.27.

january-2020.pdf (file:///C:/Users/gyoung/Downloads/january-2020.pdf)

Not sure how businesses are coping, let alone drivers.

[Moulin Yarns]

That's the price of unleaded gone up 2p in ONE DAY, first time thats ever happened. I got rid of my car in November, a when petrol was £1.46 and THAT was considered high at the time. Its now £1.80, what, seven months later, thats up over 20%? Two years ago it was £1.27.

january-2020.pdf (file:///C:/Users/gyoung/Downloads/january-2020.pdf)

Not sure how businesses are coping, let alone drivers.

Glad I managed to fill up yesterday, but as I don't drive a lot that's meant the last 3 times it's been over £50, over £60 and yesterday over £75 all for the first time.

[SChibs]

That's the price of unleaded gone up 2p in ONE DAY, first time thats ever happened. I got rid of my car in November, a when petrol was £1.46 and THAT was considered high at the time. Its now £1.80, what, seven months later, thats up over 20%? Two years ago it was £1.27.

january-2020.pdf (file:///C:/Users/gyoung/Downloads/january-2020.pdf)

Not sure how businesses are coping, let alone drivers.

Yet the likes of BP and Shell are posting profits in the billions. Its a complete joke.

[Stairway 2 7]

Obviously not the answer for everyone as people need cars too. But surely some people realise with prices they are, more trips can be done by walking and cycling. The amount of people that I know live close, I see dropping of the bairns at school in the car gives me the boak. Two old boys at work cycle in every day in all weather's, both in their late 60s. We just don't seem to walk anywhere in this country, Edinburgh is a braw city to walk in

[hibsbollah]

Obviously not the answer for everyone as people need cars too. But surely some people realise with prices they are, more trips can be done by walking and cycling. The amount of people that I know live close, I see dropping of the bairns at school in the car gives me the boak. Two old boys at work cycle in every day in all weather's, both in their late 60s. We just don't seem to walk anywhere in this country, Edinburgh is a braw city to walk in

Since November I cycle to work every day and i dont want to come over as smug, lots of people cant do it for a range of reasons, but my standard of life has improved a lot now i'm not dodging traffic wardens and trying to negotiate road closures and jams.

[Pretty Boy]

Obviously not the answer for everyone as people need cars too. But surely some people realise with prices they are, more trips can be done by walking and cycling. The amount of people that I know live close, I see dropping of the bairns at school in the car gives me the boak. Two old boys at work cycle in every day in all weather's, both in their late 60s. We just don't seem to walk anywhere in this country, Edinburgh is a braw city to walk in

I walk to work 5 days a week currently, all seasons and in all weather. In fact I walk almost everywhere when it's just me travelling. The walk to work is a 11 mile round trip everyday and I'll happily walk the 9 miles to my parents if I'm visiting, I walk to the shops, I walk to Easter Road etc etc.

I'm fortunate though that my wife works part time so can take my daughter to nursery (usually walking). If I have to do it for any reason then the car is a must. She starts at 8.30, I start at 9. Walking or bussing it and making both on time just isn't possible. It will be even worse when she starts school in August and her start time is pushed back to 8.45.

Of course there are people who could walk who don't but for a huge number the practicalities just don't work. A more flexible approach to working might work but I'd wager it would have to make economic sense for the employer for that to ever happen. The consumer price of fuel or the climate won't even enter the equation.

[hibsbollah]

Another almost 2p daily increase, filling your tank is likely to cost about £100 now.

I feel like I’m living through the prequel to some apocalyptic movie, where only WALL-E survives.

[silverhibee]

Another almost 2p daily increase, filling your tank is likely to cost about £100 now.

I feel like I’m living through the prequel to some apocalyptic movie, where only WALL-E survives.

I stuck £50 of petrol in my car the other day, it just went over the half a tank, just, last year and it would be close to filling the tank up.

[Stairway 2 7]

No sure what the answer is. Britain is a similar price to the rest of Europe. So I guess no one has found the answer.

Gas companies certainly shouldn't be allowed obscene profits for a kick off. Upside surely will lead to less fossil fuel use in Europe

[Pretty Boy]

I stuck £50 of petrol in my car the other day, it just went over the half a tank, just, last year and it would be close to filling the tank up.

It's mental.

£50 would have been close to getting me through a whole month not so long ago, last week £50 just about hit the half way point.

My wife's dad lives in Lincolnshire. Just under a 600 mile round trip. Fuel cost used to be about £95 or so there and back, In April it was £120, scary to think what it would be now. Booked far enough in advance the train probably makes more sense economically now. Better for the environment but with a baby and another child under 5 and a 35 mile onward trip form the nearest railway station at the other end it's not convenient.

The current situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Late stage capitalism has been a concept for over a century and it's quite evidently what we are living through now. With increasing prices, increased food scarcity and increasingly concentrated wealth we are probably not too far away, in relative terms, from a complete economic collapse.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

The petrol station in broxburn is a robbing barsteward. Pretty sure their prices were up about £2 two weeks ago

[SHODAN]

When are we going to see the last "once in a generation" economic crash this generation?

[Jones28]

The petrol station in broxburn is a robbing barsteward. Pretty sure their prices were up about £2 two weeks ago

If it's the Shell garage you're talking about then yes, they really are piss takers.

Reliant on people driving on company cash from East Mains.

Them and Cairn Lodge are just outrageously expensive.

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61743920

There will be more to come.


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[Scorrie]

Imagine if they put petrol prices per gallon like the old days. There’d be murder!

[Ozyhibby]

Imagine if they put petrol prices per gallon like the old days. There’d be murder!

Surely that must be the way forward for Brexit loving Britain?


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[Scorrie]

Surely that must be the way forward for Brexit loving Britain?


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Ten quid a gallon by this time next week

[Moulin Yarns]

Imagine if they put petrol prices per gallon like the old days. There’d be murder!

£2 a litre or £9.09 a gallon 🙄

[Stairway 2 7]

Ban the cars 👏

https://mobile.twitter.com/modacitylife/status/1536120098272038913

@modacitylife
To great uncertainty and controversy, in 2007, Ljubljana closed 12 hectares of its city center to private cars. Just 40% of residents approved.

A decade later, no less than 97% were against reopening to motor traffic: “None of us can really imagine cars ever staging a comeback

A low-car city is only as good as the infrastructure around it.

Since 2007, Ljubljana has launched a free on-demand electric shuttle service, renovated and built 13 active travel bridges, launched a bikeshare system that makes 900,000 trips a year, and expanded its bus network

Since the introduction of a car-free zone in 2007, the auto mode share in Ljubljana has dropped by 32%.

The concentrations of black carbon emissions has reduced 70% and noise pollution is down six decibels.

Most importantly, it’s a more pleasant place to spend time (and money).

[Moulin Yarns]

Just filled my petrol can at my local garage for the lawn mower, strimmer and chainsaw. First time this year and it was over £12, probably double the last time.

[Stairway 2 7]

Not sure where to put this but the prices certainly are extortionate anyway. These American sweet shops always looked like such dodgy money places

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61810743

London
Oxford Street: Counterfeit chocolate 'worth £100,000' seized

[Pretty Boy]

Got an email from my energy supplier today informing me my monthly payment will be doubling as of 5th July. That's on top of a 25% increase a couple of months back.

Absolutely taking the piss and not the 1st time I have heard of this happening in recent weeks. If I didn't know better I'd say it was profiteering knowing the government support is coming and an awareness people are largely trapped in their deals in the current climate.

[grunt]

My wife's dad lives in Lincolnshire. Just under a 600 mile round trip. Fuel cost used to be about £95 or so there and back, In April it was £120, scary to think what it would be now. Booked far enough in advance the train probably makes more sense economically now. Better for the environment but with a baby and another child under 5 and a 35 mile onward trip form the nearest railway station at the other end it's not convenient.
I had booked a ten day trip around the UK for next week, all by train. Senior railcard and advance booking makes it quite good value. All of that kiboshed by the strikes, so dusting off the car for a 1500 mile UK trip. Just increased my credit card limit.

And to put the tin lid on it, I can't get refunds for the non-cancelled trains even though I can't get onto them because of the cancelled ones. Don't you just love rail privatisation?

[The_Exile]

I can't get refunds for the non-cancelled trains even though I can't get onto them because of the cancelled ones.

I am absolutely staggered by that! It's practically theft!!

[speedy_gonzales]

Had to get my meters changed last week to "smart" meters, primarily because the electric meter display had failed and my supplier was unable to take an accurate reading.
Today, I get an email saying they got a reading and my Direct Debit is now rising from £100 up to £286.
I'll be contesting it, but if they use their "reading", my average units used from September to June is double my average (I've kept track of my usage for years).
I was told by the engineer that did the swap that the 1st gen smart meters had a high failure rate and there was no way of getting a reading from them once they had went faulty.
Not looking forward to the upcoming argument but there's no way I can sit back and let the supplier just pick readings at random and charge accordingly!

[Jay]

Got an email from my energy supplier today informing me my monthly payment will be doubling as of 5th July. That's on top of a 25% increase a couple of months back.

Absolutely taking the piss and not the 1st time I have heard of this happening in recent weeks. If I didn't know better I'd say it was profiteering knowing the government support is coming and an awareness people are largely trapped in their deals in the current climate.

We got one too but phoned and said not to bother . We are over £100 in credit, it's summer so our usage is low and the govt should be paying to our account in a few months so why do we need to give them more money now? It's pure greed

[Jones28]

Got an email from my energy supplier today informing me my monthly payment will be doubling as of 5th July. That's on top of a 25% increase a couple of months back.

Absolutely taking the piss and not the 1st time I have heard of this happening in recent weeks. If I didn't know better I'd say it was profiteering knowing the government support is coming and an awareness people are largely trapped in their deals in the current climate.

It is profiteering - why else would the standing charges be increased?

I'm telling you, every single one of the ***** is at it. Fuel, energy, the lot of them are a racket.

I desperately want to install solar panels in the house and get my log burners fired up. The less I need to pay these ****ers the better.

[Ozyhibby]

Why is electricity going up in Scotland at all when a lot of it comes from windmills?


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[Stairway 2 7]

I had booked a ten day trip around the UK for next week, all by train. Senior railcard and advance booking makes it quite good value. All of that kiboshed by the strikes, so dusting off the car for a 1500 mile UK trip. Just increased my credit card limit.

And to put the tin lid on it, I can't get refunds for the non-cancelled trains even though I can't get onto them because of the cancelled ones. Don't you just love rail privatisation?

Can you use buses some of the way maybe, disgusting that

[Jones28]

Why is electricity going up in Scotland at all when a lot of it comes from windmills?


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Because we're part of a national grid, whereby all the energy goes in to a big pot, gets inflated in value because reasons and sold back to us.

[Pretty Boy]

Why is electricity going up in Scotland at all when a lot of it comes from windmills?


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I queried this with my supplier when the initial wave of rises came through. I specifically chose the tariff I did because it was stated all the electricity came from renewables.

I got some waffle about hedging against wholesale fossil fuel prices, knock on effects and volatile markets. It was blindingly obvious a prepared script had been put together to answer that question. I'm still none the wiser though.

[Santa Cruz]

I had booked a ten day trip around the UK for next week, all by train. Senior railcard and advance booking makes it quite good value. All of that kiboshed by the strikes, so dusting off the car for a 1500 mile UK trip. Just increased my credit card limit.

And to put the tin lid on it, I can't get refunds for the non-cancelled trains even though I can't get onto them because of the cancelled ones. Don't you just love rail privatisation?

That's a scandal. I'm not 100% sure on this, but think that may be classed as a failure to provide a service by your card provider. I'd check with them, they may be able to carry out a charge back for you. (somebody no doubt will be along the now to say I'm givin duff info :greengrin )

[speedy_gonzales]

Why is electricity going up in Scotland at all when a lot of it comes from windmills?


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The standing charge, although only a part of the electricity bill, has rocketed due to nothing more (in my opinion) than racketeering!
If a company does well, shareholders get a tasty slice of the profits.
Company does bust, then apparently the remaining companies are forced to take a share of the deficit.
That's akin to a pub going out of business and the pub next door putting the price of a pint up 10p to recover the losses!

[Santa Cruz]

The standing charge, although only a part of the electricity bill, has rocketed due to nothing more (in my opinion) than racketeering!
If a company does well, shareholders get a tasty slice of the profits.
Company does bust, then apparently the remaining companies are forced to take a share of the deficit.
That's akin to a pub going out of business and the pub next door putting the price of a pint up 10p to recover the losses!

The standing charge costs more on pre payment meter's, there's no need for that blatant rip off either. Not always the case but they tend to be used more by people who have a very limited budget.

[Ozyhibby]

The standing charge costs more on pre payment meter's, there's no need for that blatant rip off either. Not always the case but they tend to be used more by people who have a very limited budget.

That’s been a scandal for a long time. They pay far more for their electricity and Gas.


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[Just Alf]

That’s been a scandal for a long time. They pay far more for their electricity and Gas.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI've always wondered about that.. surely a PREPAYMENT meter means the supplier has the cash upfront, whereas a meter on an account is the most likely to not pay the bill?

In a way it could be argued that prepayment = you get a discount!