Electricity

Wellbeck yes I Also shocked at the words used. I think it’s an awful way to describe people losing life!

I pay £46 a month for gas and electric to British Gas. It's much more than I'ver ever paid.....I was £168 in credit so phoned and got half of that paid back to my account.... I live alone in a small 2bed flat and very economical with what I use.......

my family will struggle with the huge increases though.

poshpaws GN threads are discussion threads, people discuss different topics and make suggestions about what they do and suggest others might benefit from doing something similar.

Each of us, (at least I do) looks at suggestions and some times think 'What a good idea' and other times thinks 'Wouldn't work for me'.

So the suggestion I made wouldn't work for you. That is fine, I wasn't suggesting everyone should do it. just suggesting some might find it worth considering.

Mummer

12c is far too cold and risky! Also it means your boiler has to work so much harder to heat the house when it is put on, using power less efficiently. 15-16c is optimum with Woolies etc. And easier to boost if it gets really cold. Becareful as hypothermia creeps up and symptoms are very hard to spot, quite hazardous to be below safe temperature specially as we get older and less active.

Totally agree about 12 degrees being too low, especially for elderly people. I understand that living areas should be heated to 18 degrees although bedrooms can be lower, any lower and your health could be affected.

Personally, my house would be damp and mouldy if not well heated, I suffering from damp problems for five years until I replaced the old, ineffective boiler - mould on walls, damp mattress, nasty smell, condensation etc.

I guess lifestyle can make a difference, a younger person who is always rushing around looking after a young family could cope with lower temperatures than someone like me, older, restricted mobility and recently retired so in the house during the day.

I have increased my donations to a local food bank as I know more families are being forced to use them but I still feel guilty that I can afford to pay the increases in my household bills as I can make savings in other areas if I have to.

M0nica

You said "If anyone is afraid of big winter bills, it is easy enough to put a standard sum of money aside every month into a savings account so that the cost of fuel is spread smoothly over the year and pay your bills from that."

Sorry, but for people like me who are having to rob Peter to pay Paul even prior to the energy price increases, that's like that MP who said he couldn't manage on a salary of "only" £85k a year.

I've had to start selling things to pay the bills this last month, that I really don't want to part with but don't actually need - like the vintage neep chapper that my late husband and I were so excited to get several years ago, but which is pretty unnecessary compared to my need for heat and hot water.

There are, in my opinion going to be an awful lot more deaths this winter amongst the elderly, the unwell and the poor, because (I fit all 3 caregories! blimey, just realised that!) we simply can't find the extra money when we were struggling to begin with.

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There is not a lot that energy companies can do, but there is actually something that they can do. Centrica ( British Gas owners) made even more profits due to the pandemic, maybe because people were furloughed or working from home. Maybe they could share some of it with their customers. There are only few British energy companies. Most such as British Gas, EDF, Eon, NPower are French or German owned. Most companies are now all very similar in price. Anyone on a variable tariff at the moment or about to come off a fixed tariff may find UW a good alternative. They are a British company. They don't advertise and not on comparison websites. They will save you money if you take all their services ( and probably save you money if you just take energy, but you would need to get a quote) They are award winning, excellent customer services and have lots of extra benefits, such as a cashback card that can reduce your bills even further. Plus benefits of a credit of £50 for taking a smart meter. Up to £50 for referring a friend or relative and still other benefits. A strong company that has been in the UK for over 20 years. I recommend them.

Gongoozler you are so fortunate, the world is your oyster-all I ask is that you do not squander it. If you are careful there may be enough for the odd treat.

It is an insult and will cost £££s to pay you that amount.

Thanks Railman, great idea!

Gongoozler

I recently had a letter to say that having matured to perfection and reached the grand old age of 80 I will get a whole 25p a week on my OAP. I have been puzzling over what to squander this largesse on until this week we had our gas and electricity increase notification and my problem is solved!
What a wonderful life!

I know what you mean - maybe put it to one side to pay for the loan / debt that Rishi Sunak is lumbering us with from October?

I recently had a letter to say that having matured to perfection and reached the grand old age of 80 I will get a whole 25p a week on my OAP. I have been puzzling over what to squander this largesse on until this week we had our gas and electricity increase notification and my problem is solved!
What a wonderful life!

Smart Meters can be useful, and build on the age old SCADA technology used to monitor elements of the electricity network.
But, no doubt because of successive Tory governments' obsession with privatisation has resulted in ever increasing bureaucracy with a multi layered service provision to the consumer. The "energy companies" are often just agents liaising between the actual owners of the infrastructure and connection providers, and are just paying your bills for you.

If there was a standard way of providing smart meters, then perhaps there would be a register of licensed installers, who work directly for the energy companies.

Sadly, the UK's "energy market" was created as a fictional marketplace by John Major through the NETA arrangements and broke up the regional and area suppliers into multiple companies - which, inevitably costs more to operate.

Ah well - technology's great isn't it

I pay Octopus £64.73 per month on DD for Electricity only. There is no mains gas where I live. Our heating is oil fired and I pay £54 per month for that . This is variable, and I have only just begun to pay in advance, rather than buying oil at around £300 plus for 500 litres, as and when we get low (we check how much is in the tank regularly). I thought this would be the better strategy. I'm supposed to have had a smart meter fitted to the tank, but that hasn't happened yet (I have the meter, but am awaiting fitting, which I have also paid for in advance.) I live in the very North of Scotland, so it's pretty cool here in the winter months. I will be keeping an eye in this, as we have spent our savings on a new kitchen (the existing one was falling apart) and Triple Glazed windows (yet to be installed).

Mummer

Mummer

Hey you guys!!!! Out of interest I just checked y account and.....it's IN CREDIT FIR £24,360.29!!!!!!!!YES!!! IT IS!!!! Unbelievable!
I've just sent them a brutal email asking for an explanation? To hats it! I've decided were going back to old fashi ok nedpay as we use and paper bills!!! These idiots simply cannot be trusted! I can't believe it........wish I could demand a refund though????

This system sucks can we pleeeeeeeeeeeze have editing tool, predictive overrules corrections. Even when they have been closely checker

Only noticed it on your post though….

Just a quick reminder, the price you are quoted for your monthly payments is based upon an estimate of your usage, is not a fixed price irrespective of what you use (Karmalady said the same I believe) I have always thought that the so called average usage, and average capped bill amount is not a very useful yardstick. We have just had our email informing us of the increases in the per KwH charges for gas and electricity, plus the increased standing charges for each. Based on this month's usage from our smart meter readings online, we have used £180.69 in gas and electricity including standing charge, from 1st April, this equivalent will be £289.41.

Closely ‘checker’ like your last post? Why not use the preview facility.
I have no idea what your hysterical post is about anyway. Does your electricity supply company address you as ‘guys’ or are you addressing us as ‘guys’?

Mummer

Hey you guys!!!! Out of interest I just checked y account and.....it's IN CREDIT FIR £24,360.29!!!!!!!!YES!!! IT IS!!!! Unbelievable!
I've just sent them a brutal email asking for an explanation? To hats it! I've decided were going back to old fashi ok nedpay as we use and paper bills!!! These idiots simply cannot be trusted! I can't believe it........wish I could demand a refund though????

This system sucks can we pleeeeeeeeeeeze have editing tool, predictive overrules corrections. Even when they have been closely checker

SillyNanny, I am sorry you are finding the increased fuel charges worrying, but I am sick and tired of the anti younger people rhetoric on GN, my adult children are nothing like you describe, they did not vote for this bloody government, they are polite, hard working, and guess what? They pay gas and electric bills too!

Hey you guys!!!! Out of interest I just checked y account and.....it's IN CREDIT FIR £24,360.29!!!!!!!!YES!!! IT IS!!!! Unbelievable!
I've just sent them a brutal email asking for an explanation? To hats it! I've decided were going back to old fashi ok nedpay as we use and paper bills!!! These idiots simply cannot be trusted! I can't believe it........wish I could demand a refund though????

I have resisted all attempts to persuade me to get a smart meter fitted after all the tales of woe I’ve heard about them. I can read my meter whenever I want but just do so once a month and email the readings in. Then I receive a bill a few days later. It’s perfectly easy to keep track of usage and work out what your bill will be.

Years ago we were with npower, credit balance built up to £440. Only way to get it back was to change supplier. We've had some issues with our smart meter, installed by the now defunct Robin Hood Energy. When we changed to Pure Planet, they could sometimes not read the gas usage. We had to send in endless photos.Pure Planet went the way of Robin Hood, now similar problems with new supplier. Asked for new smart meter, was booked for next month, now cancelled.

12c is far too cold and risky! Also it means your boiler has to work so much harder to heat the house when it is put on, using power less efficiently. 15-16c is optimum with Woolies etc. And easier to boost if it gets really cold. Becareful as hypothermia creeps up and symptoms are very hard to spot, quite hazardous to be below safe temperature specially as we get older and less active.

Germanshepherdsmum

Which is why I don’t succumb to the constant attempts to get me to pay by DD even if they will give me £5 off or whatever. I submit the meter readings, they email me a bill, I pay it.

Glad I'm not the only one then.

I've been told how much easier it is to pay a fixed amount DD and that you can budget more easily.

In fact, looking at what I've used and paid for afterwards helps me to reconcile what I've been operating electrically and electronically, and I can usually manage to reduce the next bill simply by being more efficient.

... and keep the saving in my account.

LizzieDrip

I would advise everyone to get a smart metre - your energy company should fit one free of charge. Before I had mine, I really had very little idea how much energy I was using until the quarterly bill arrived. Now, with a smart metre I’m much more in control. I’ve set an ‘ideal’ daily budget on the metre and, if I’m going above it, I can adjust usage accordingly, if I so choose. The smart metre gives me the information I need to make my own choices.

Don't speak about flaming smart meters! Got them fitted then switched, just found out electric charged for ok but haven't been billed for gas! Luckily I'm aware and brought to their attention due to big credit building on my account!? Update to yesterday ! Now they say there's also a problem with the gathering of usage info on the electricity smart meter side!! Waste of time, I feel like telling them I'll pay as I go on old style paper bills! At least I'll be in control, can save up in summer to pay winter! And it will be in MY bank not theirs!!

I wouldn't have a DD every month. Why should I hand my money over to Shell energy who made millions last year!!!. I put meter readings in every month and recieve my bill every 3 month which is taken from my bank....

Ladyleftfieldlover

We had an email from our electricity supplier yesterday informing us that our electricity direct debit is going up by £400 per year - £33 a month. We are already on the lowest tariff, but can fortunately afford it. How on earth will families with little income manage! We’ve already had to pay around £200 more for our heating oil than last year. With the Ukrainian shenanigans, it is likely that these costs will increase even more.

"Shenanigans" ? Really? How crass and insensitive of you, it's an all out invasion , sod your bills- if you can afford it what's your point exactly?