Energy costs, the way we were, and how we might cope today.

Pre-covid, I discovered quite a few people using their bus passes in winter to spend time on public transport for the warmth, not the journey. Young mums and their children were on the bus too for the same reason. The more I used the bus, the more befriended me, the more I learned.
Thank you for the sensitive, considerate and thoughtful post Maw.

In my area when the local library was open daily there were many people who spent most of the day there, reading newspapers and generally trying to keep warm.

MaybeMaw Energy consumption in this country is falling and has been for quite some years. peak energy consumption was in 2001 and has been steadily dropping since. nic.org.uk/data/all-data/historic-energy/. The data can be reached by clicking on the link at the bottom of the first page of this document.

In the domestic sector, insulation in homes, technical developments like LED bulbs and more energy efficient appliances means we can use all these modern appliances and gadgets while keeping energy consumption falling.

Charleygirl5

In my area when the local library was open daily there were many people who spent most of the day there, reading newspapers and generally trying to keep warm.

Same here, Charleygirl. And now both our local libraries have been closed. And the bus services round here are so bad, heaven help anyone hoping to use them to keep warm. They’d spend more time shivering at bus stops, waiting for buses that never turned up.

Maggiemaybe

Charleygirl5

In my area when the local library was open daily there were many people who spent most of the day there, reading newspapers and generally trying to keep warm.

Same here, Charleygirl. And now both our local libraries have been closed. And the bus services round here are so bad, heaven help anyone hoping to use them to keep warm. They’d spend more time shivering at bus stops, waiting for buses that never turned up.

There were also lunch clubs and afternoon tea clubs which were run by volunteers for older people so they had a meal, met others socially - and could keep warm.

Due to Covid they're probably not running at the moment.

When I retired early my contribution to the household finances was to keep the heating off in the day in the winter. I have Reynaud's syndrome and froze every day for months huddling up with hot water bottles.

Unfortunately, I had, unbeknownst to me, inherited arthritis and this bad posture and cold exacerbated my back problems.

In October I had to have an operation on my spine and since then, to aid my recovery, I've had the heat on. Goodness knows what it will cost in money but the cost to my health was incalculable and I will not be so foolish as to endanger my well being and freedom again.

The cost to the NHS was roughly £10,000 and the risks of the operation were paralysis and death but the pain was too acute and enduring to bear without the procedure.

I would urge those who are eager for others to sit in the cold to think about the unforeseen consequences of such sacrifices.

I’m one of the many who remember a fire in the living room and Jack Frost on the inside of my bedroom window. In this modern day I’m comfortably ensconced in a centrally heated home. Last week I received a missive from my energy company. They told me based on their calculations I will now have to up my DD payment of £76.26 to £121.45 (near enough a 60% increase) which is lining their pockets, not mine. I refused to pay such a hike and took meter readings which were sent to them. To cut a long story short I informed them that I would make an increased payment of only £95 which they accepted without challenge. Nobody has to pay the hiked amount that these energy companies demand. A bit of simple working out should show you the minimum extra that you would need to pay. It’s very important to take actual meter readings first though and send to the energy company.

We had fireplaces in the living room and one bedroom. Yes ice on the inside of windows was the norm in the winter. An electric immersion for hot water. The bedroom fire was only lit if someone was ill and I mean ill and a Dr was due to visit. This was in a house where my dad was a miner who had really cheap coal. No shovelling it on just because it was there! I am as guilty as the next wasting energy eg running hot water tap, washing machine not fully loaded, oven on for only one dish and heating on higher than it possibly needs to be. Big Think campaign in this house needed.

I would urge those who are eager for others to sit in the cold to think about the unforeseen consequences of such sacrifices

I don’t think anybody here is advocating any such thing!
However, when I see girls in skimpy tops and bare legs, lads in t - shirts (and frankly my hardy Postie in his shorts ?) I do wonder if some people have lost sight of the difference between summer and winter temperatures. My mum woukd have said “Get a vest on “ and my Scottish Granny knew for a fact “They’ll catch their death of cold”
Look at the suffocating heat in many shops - then released out into the open air whenever the shop door is opened just as one example.
So go back through this thread and tell me whoever said the elderly, the very young, those with disabilities or health issues should “sit in the cold” but perhaps we all need to bear in mind that the planet cannot afford to tolerate wasteful energy consumption and what we are going to experience with higher energy bills is but a microscopic reflection of the cost to the environment.

Is it about time to unprivatise essential services - water, electricity and gas?
I had come to the end of my fixed term electricity contract (no gas just oil heating and water) and was looking at what is available; Standard rate has a higher unit cost and lower daily charge but the fixed term offers had a lower unit charge and much higher daily charge. Why?

I remember ice on the insides of our windows we had a fire in the living room and a tiny electric heater to take the chill off the bedroom before going to bed. With hot waterbottles keeping the beds warm. The only time I remember suffering from cold was when my feet and hands were so painful after playing in the snow.
I do think central heating and double glazing has led to us being ’soft’. There is some research pointing to the idea that if we are acclimatised to colder conditions we could be healthier.

My DD bought me one of these for Christmas: Bedsure Oversized Blanket Hoodie. It's so soft and keeps me really warm. Ideal for in the house.

For health reasons I have had to leave my house and come to a small ground floor flat. They are totally heated by electricity, no gas available at all, and with a bad back and mobility problems I do feel the cold so much more. Have only been here a few months, had to move during covid and my family have not been able to come over and help me set things up in a better way.So I have no idea what my bills will be. did a lot of checking and went to Igloo and set it up but they have gone bust and now with e.on. As both Paul and Martin Lewis say I am staying on the price cap until april as no schemes will be better but am extremely worried about the cost when it comes. The best I can do is go out for a walk when I am able, and go to bed early with a good book and pajamas and bedsocks on . Well I was brought up with only heating downstairs and the beautiful frost patterns on the inside of the windows, but I could move about well then.Ah well thank goodness for free breathing, a walk and a visit to the library. At least the days are getting just a little bit lighter , to cheer us up.

I have so many similar memories- an Ideal coke boiler in the kitchen - got a nasty burn from that! - Have the scar to this day- coal fire in the sitting room and that was it! No other heating - ice on the inside of the windows- the winter of 1947 was freezing- vests, Liberty bodices, wool blankets, but we managed - no other alternative! Everyone was in the same boat -

I'm thinking of going on the 5:2 duet for energy, i.e 2 days a week turn everything down to minimum. I hope while it won't quite cut 2/7ths my consumption, due to fridge etc being on, I am hopeful that this will help but not ideally in winter.

I remember al the things others have said while growing up, I wouldn't want to go back to ice on the windows one source of heating for the whole house, and I think its a disgrace some people have to wear outdoor clothing when indoors in order to keep warm. Something must be done by the Government to stop this happening, the old and vey young need constant heating but if you dont have the finances what do you do, its hard to think we live in 2022.We need a Government that cares for people.

Most of my long life I have lived in warm houses. I do suffer from poor circulation and arthritis so now I don’t see why in spite of the cost I should cut down on the heat as long as I can afford it. You cannot take money with you when you die.
However I believe we would be better off if the utilities were nationalised

Quite right pce612! There was no need to privatise water and look at the result: raw sewage dumped into rivers but fat profits for Tory friends. The gas price is a world issue but the UK government failed to ensure the privatised energy companies created gas storage for the winter. UK gas storage is minimal compared with EU countries. Who benefits? Guess who. If they could privatise fresh air they would.

CrazyGrandma2

My DD bought me one of these for Christmas: Bedsure Oversized Blanket Hoodie. It's so soft and keeps me really warm. Ideal for in the house.

I have one of these also, a treat to me at Christmas. Agree with you, and so much warmer than a dressing gown, as no cold gaps.

Grantanow

Quite right pce612! There was no need to privatise water and look at the result: raw sewage dumped into rivers but fat profits for Tory friends. The gas price is a world issue but the UK government failed to ensure the privatised energy companies created gas storage for the winter. UK gas storage is minimal compared with EU countries. Who benefits? Guess who. If they could privatise fresh air they would.

Yes you are right, this should never have happened. When Blair in power did they do anything to reverse this . No. Any incoming Gov that would take all utilities back into U.K. hands, would get my vote. Can’t see it happening though.

We only had a coal fire with a back boiler that heated a tank of water and then we all shared the bath water, being the youngest in those days wasn't great lol. A paraffin heater was put on the landing at night in the winter to try to warm the bedrooms causing condensation to run down the windows. We have got used to the comforts of central heating, etc, but it must be terrible for anyone who is unable to get around, just sitting freezing cold if they are unable to put it on. I bought a lot of fleecy sweatshirts and they are great in the house when the heating is off.

Here in North East Scotland, with central heTi

Here in Aberdeen I don't have the heating on during the night. I go to bed with a hot water bottle. With a good duvet I don't need the cardigan I used to wear when I was a child. Like many others we had a fire in the living room and no where else although 2 of the bedrooms had fireplaces. We too had beautiful frost patterns inside the windows in the bedrooms. Other things will have to be sacrificed to keep the heating on this winter.

My elderly father almost died because he lived in an old house with central heating but it never felt warm in winter. He had COPD and got constant chest infections. When he was released from hospital he ended up back in there within two days and almost died again, I had to bring him to live in my house where he managed another three years.

Madeleine45
Please, please do not live like that. If you need the heating on, put it on. As a vulnerable person they can’t turn your heating off.