Frightening power bills

I have just had to input my readings to octopus, this morning. Quick calcs and I am guessing my bill will be up +33% this year compared to last year, in spite of the readings being lower.

Yesterday, I actually went around and lowered some wall thermostats by .5 of a degree, I won`t notice that as my body has pretty well adapted. I also use a mini tower air fryer instead of my small oven as it requires no pre-heating, it even cooks pastry very well and am back to old style batch cooking, making ready meals that I can re-heat in the air fryer or microwave. Just small tweaks but they are helping

I will input my actual bill here when it comes online. It helps that my house is a new build and extremely well insulated

Due to rise 50% in April and a further 20% in August

I was horrified too when by bill went from £72 in November to £234 in December without anything changing! Goodness knows how I will pay it if it continues to rise ?
We only have the heating on for 2 hours morning and evening, the same with hot water.
The thermostat is at 17°, I can’t go any lower because DH is recovering from major surgery and pretty immobile. We already wear layers of clothing etc.
It’s a frightening time.

If that’s the case Whitewavemark2 then I despair.

They need to zero rate it for VAT purposes that would help people.

The poor pay a huge % of their income for fuel/food compared to the better off.

This year is going to see a lot of hardship and will be enough to sink some families.

Mine went up from £86 to £198pm?. My energy supplier went bust. As soon as I can I will switch, but it doesn’t appear to be possible to find a better deal at the moment.

They can't put everyone in prison for non-payment !

If people refused to pay then something would have to be done. Look what happened with the Poll Tax. People just won't stand for it.
This is one greedy, grasping country !

I'm so glad to see this thread on here. I had such a shock this morning when I saw my bill for the month. It's over a third more than this time last year.

I am going around turning down radiators whilst it is snowing outside. I worry about older, sicker, poorer people - how will they be coping. I hope something will be done so that they don't have to worry or be cold.

My fuel bill is horrendous. When DH was here, he was always cold and we ran the heating 24/7 up til his death in March. Signed up with Octopus in September, keeping the same sort of payment (£160) and have spent £1000 on energy from 17/9 to 17/12 - I made an additional payment in November, but behind again already. I’ve queried it and it’s correct - ‘they’ say my monthly payment is barely covering the gas and I should be paying 1/3rd more than I am! I feel I can reduce my electricity use but I’m only heating the rooms I use and on the timer, unless it’s Baltic.

This is one greedy, grasping country !

I woke up thinking this EllanVannin. Someone said on here yesterday that Liz Truss's lunch was to show that we are one of the wealthiest nations on Earth. It set me thinking then why are our pensions so low compared to other comparable countries and why do we spend so much less per capita on health care.

Am I alone in longing for change but despairing that it will come?

tanith, is your 'new fixed deal' good value for money? Do please check the kWh cost and 'daily rate' standing charge.

I was offered a fixed deal (well, pushed and nagged, really) that was far more expensive than the present, price capped, variable rate. Shocking behaviour from British Gas!

BlueBalou
With respect I will say that your room temperature is too low for someone recovering from major surgery.
If you are on any benefits make a phone call.
Probably things have changed but some years ago a friend ( on benefits) received extra money because of his wife’s medical condition.

I don't think it's the fault of a gready grasping country more the wholesale price of gas
I remember something on Martin Lewis in the early part of last year so I suspected rates might go sky high Our fixed rate was coming to an end and the one British Gas were offering did not look favourable. I did a large search of all their rates they have quite a lot and found a good rate fixed until September 2022 did not realise at the time how fortunate this would be.
My bill is due shortly so we will see

You are absolutely right Rosie. It isn't the fault of the government or the energy suppliers that global oil prices have rocketed.
I don't pay for my fuel by direct debit even though that would produce a small saving, because in my experience from having done so years ago, the amount taken always favours the supplier who sits on a credit balance. We are all electric, read our meter every month and pay as soon as the bill comes through. We are with Ovo who we find very good.

Germanshepherdsmum

You are absolutely right Rosie. It isn't the fault of the government or the energy suppliers that global oil prices have rocketed.
I don't pay for my fuel by direct debit even though that would produce a small saving, because in my experience from having done so years ago, the amount taken always favours the supplier who sits on a credit balance. We are all electric, read our meter every month and pay as soon as the bill comes through. We are with Ovo who we find very good.

Ours is direct debit as that was part of the deal but it usually covers the cost with no huge over payments.

For those on low incomes it might be worth seeing if you're eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme. Not all energy suppliers do it, but it's worth having a look. I applied in October and had £140 added to my account with Bulb in December. Every little helps.

You are perfectly entitled to request the credit be repaid

Indeed you are wwm but I found it a big hassle and vowed not to pay for power by dd again. I prefer the money to be in my account even though the interest is almost non existent.

MerylStreep

BlueBalou
With respect I will say that your room temperature is too low for someone recovering from major surgery.
If you are on any benefits make a phone call.
Probably things have changed but some years ago a friend ( on benefits) received extra money because of his wife’s medical condition.

We aren’t on, and are not eligible for, any benefits other than the Winter payment. I did query it with our provider but we’re on their best offer so completely stuffed!
DH has hot water bottles and blankets so isn’t cold thankfully.
We’re just going to have to deplete our savings, not that we have much, no other choice.
The house move to downsize should help but we can’t pursue that at the moment.

I don't know how people will cope with such an increase. I'm worried how my daughter and her housemate will be able to afford their bill in their supported living house and there must be lots of disabled people who cannot work who this will affect

Whitewavemark2

You are perfectly entitled to request the credit be repaid

I’m still waiting for my now defunct supplier to repay £345, I’m really not hopeful it’s going to happen after 4 years! I

My electricity company went bust. Before it did so my D/D was £46 per month. I was automatically transferred to another company (no choice given) and it has gone up to £68. Gulp!

My gas tank seems to be emptying at alarming speed, even though I barely use the heating - only in the evenings really. The house seems to hold the heat and all the rooms are at 19 degrees when I get up. But filling the tank will cost me £800 at least!

I am lucky in that I have savings and can afford these bills. It is impossible to imagine how people on benefits are going to manage this winter. It is a dreadful situation.

I too am waiting for a defunct supplier to refund me £220! Every time I ring about it I am told that the old supplier has not yet supplied their closing figures to the new.

it is caused by global energy prices, not the fault of uk government. Russia is also putting the squeeze on

I am so thankful that I arranged a new 2 year fix with octopus in october

Re poll tax, wish it had gone ahead. Single person household paying more than 4 person working household in old large cottage with grounds. To make it fairer, all properties should be given a modern valuation too