Huge rise on Energy bills

What's all this windfall tax Why don't labour renationalise

No one should be bullied. I dont agree that WFA should be means tested, I believe all of at or over pensinable age should get it, but I respect the right for others to disagree.

Kali2

Dickens

growstuff

I really cringe when "young people" are talked about like this.

My son, a student, lives in a small attic flat in Newcastle. He wears many layers indoors and fingerless gloves when he's typing out his work. He told me last weekend that he had to turn his heating on for the first time this year because he couldn't cope with the cold any more.

Yes, this "young people today" schtick gets a bit tedious.

Wearing a warm jumper indoors is one thing, but no-one should have to go around swathed in layers of clothes, gloves and thick socks that don't even fit in your shoes or sit with a blanket round them in this day and age.
Being cold is miserable - especially if you are working at a desk. It dulls the mind, lowers your mood and is fatiguing as the body tries to keep its core temperature.
I'm all for being sensible with central heating, but not being able to warm your room / home because it's too expensive is not something we should resign ourselves to.

A pity some read my posts as a criticism of the 'youth of today'- it was not. But the fact is, young people of today have not ever, mostly, had to live in a cold house, having to wear layers and so much more. And I didn't say all, but 'mainly'.

All the lovely young people I know tend to wear very little year round, and to have the thermostat turned on high. This is not a criticism, it is saying that they have grown without realising how we have to respect the use of energy much more, and not take it for granted. And young people can maintain and produce heat.

Well, I am afraid we have had to resign ourselves to it, to some extent, and that is ok. There is nothing wrong with putting a vest on, or a warmer jumper and leggings and socks. Not talking about freezing as many of us had to when we were growing up- but just using *common sense*- where have I mentionned being swathed in layers of clothes? Unless elderly or frail, of course.

Kali2

I wasn't referring to you specifically, but to the general tone of implied criticism of the young and those - not necessarily on this forum either - who seem to think that because we had to layer up in our icy-cold houses, young people should now do the same.

I agree with you about wanton use of energy - we need more energy efficient buildings / housing, but no-one should have to be cold because they are afraid of their fuel bill.

I bet there aren't many youngsters who wear vests {grin]

In my last house the old man who lived opposite me used to walk around in his hot as Hades house with his shirt off every single day of the year. He had big windows and was a very big, hairy fellow. I wish he'd worn a vest.

growstuff

Callistemon21

And yet (bracing myself) is it time to respect energy more?

Kali2 there was an older person on the news this evening who said she is worried about turning on her electric fire because of the cost.
However, I noticed that although she was wearing a long-sleeved top, she had no cardigan on. It was a thin one, the kind I'd wear come April if the weather is warmer, perhaps with a gilet.

Do you know what she was wearing under her jumper?

It wasn't a jumper, it was a thin top.
No, she didn't pull it up!

There is a happy medium, no-one wants to go back to the days of ice on the insides of windows but some people do expect to wear t shirts indoors in the winter rather than turn the heating down a degree or two.

It isn't just the young anyway.

My elderly mum won't wear more than two layers (and one layer on her legs).
She isn't wealthy, but will turn the heating up rather than consider wearing more clothes or using a blanket while sitting around.

My DH is exactlythe same. Our house is heated to 21°. He sits there in shirt (often short-sleeved) and jumper, plus jeans, complaining he is cold.

Callistemon21

growstuff

Callistemon21

And yet (bracing myself) is it time to respect energy more?

Kali2 there was an older person on the news this evening who said she is worried about turning on her electric fire because of the cost.
However, I noticed that although she was wearing a long-sleeved top, she had no cardigan on. It was a thin one, the kind I'd wear come April if the weather is warmer, perhaps with a gilet.

Do you know what she was wearing under her jumper?

It wasn't a jumper, it was a thin top.
No, she didn't pull it up!

There is a happy medium, no-one wants to go back to the days of ice on the insides of windows but some people do expect to wear t shirts indoors in the winter rather than turn the heating down a degree or two.

Exactly!

Happy Medium- common sense. And no, I never said it is just the young either.

I’m afraid it’s time to bring back the liberty bodice.

We routinely wear warm layers here, I hate the house feeling hot. I grew up in an overheated house and have never wanted to replicate it.

The French government has reacted to the global rise in the costs of energy by puting a 5% cap on the rise of household energy bills.

If they can do that why can't we?

Our energy bills are due to rise by over 50%

varian

The French government has reacted to the global rise in the costs of energy by puting a 5% cap on the rise of household energy bills.

If they can do that why can't we?

Our energy bills are due to rise by over 50%

... EDF will take the hit instead - it's a multinational but still largely owned by France.

Of course, its market value will drop, but as France's environment minister has promised to help the EDF withstand the blow, I suspect it will rise again ultimately.

Our chancellor prefers to keep a tight rein on public finances. We could have introduced a loan scheme for the industry to smooth out the increase over several years. Suppliers could borrow cheaply from the Treasury - but that would embed higher energy prices for many years to come.

These hikes will not just affect households - it will also affect business who will, presumably, pass on the extra costs to their customers.

Not good.

Coastpath

In my last house the old man who lived opposite me used to walk around in his hot as Hades house with his shirt off every single day of the year. He had big windows and was a very big, hairy fellow. I wish he'd worn a vest.

Just like this guy Coastpath? ?

Arggggh Urmstongran, you've bought it all flooding back. Grim!!

??

Careful, his wife's on GN!

EDF is one of the big energy suppliers in U.K. the profits they will be making here will offset the losses they may make in France.

GrannyGravy13

EDF is one of the big energy suppliers in U.K. the profits they will be making here will offset the losses they may make in France.

... EDF energy tariffs are subject to Ofgem's energy price cap - we've given them the go ahead with 54%...

We need a publicly-owned, not-for-profit energy company selling at cost price - or as close as possible. IMO, obviously.

Dickens - we had that - public utilities - until a certain Mrs Thatcher decided to privatise them!

Many houses need better insulation - here you can get the house insulated for €1 - there are rules of course and I know no details because we insulated ours as we redid each room. We found ceiling insulation was far more effective than we imagined and of course great for sound proofing - something I wish I had realised when music was thumping through the house!
I cannot understand why we are not using wool more - it is a renewable resource and could be used for many things rather than materials which are difficult to recycle.
We wear layers as needed and both have good warm coats for outside. I buy coats a size larger than needed to allow for any extra layers!

Is it legal to force a loan onto someone who doesn’t want it?

Young people who leave home in the next 5 years will have to pay the £40pa charge on their (huge) gas & electric bills but they won’t have received the £200 one-off discount. It’s a shambles, as usual.

Martin Lewis

Just to clarify in practice the £200 bill-credit 'loan' on all home elec bills in Oct.

- every bill will reduce by £200
- every bill after Apr 23 increases by £40/yr for 5yrs regardless of if you got the £200 or not.

Its a 1yr bill reduction followed by a 5yr compulsory levy.

This IS NOT WORKING is it?

Plus very low income families pay no council tax. How will the £150 rebate work for them.

Sunak is not very economically literate it would appear.

Whitewavemark2

Is it legal to force a loan onto someone who doesn’t want it?

It's probably not legally a loan, more a subsidy that's later clawed back with higher charges.

Whatever language it's couched in it's a load of nonsense.

Also another thought. Some people have different suppliers for their different fuels.

How will that work?