Gas & Electricity

[Manchester33]

I've been looking into it and whilst the payback time used to be very long (20-25 years), its now down to 11 years and likely to be 7 years by the autumn (on currently forecast prices)

Thanks for that. I think 7 years to become cost-effective is a fair investment. Especially given the life span of each panel seems to be at least 25 years.

 

[Manchester33]

I couldn't say if it was the case that energy bills went down in real terms for 20 years running after privatisation. I always remember every year vast profits being reported by energy companies though, so if the customer was benefitting then it wasn't a form of charity as the energy firms were doing very nicely out of whatever we were paying too

@metalblue if that was the case and I'm not sure it is, it's been totally blown out of the water now. I don't remember my parents being in shock that the bills were going up double in a matter of months. Some people are going to be paying more for energy than they are for rent, it's unsustainable. The government has to do more or they will face vast bills to try and cope with huge amounts of people being homeless as with the interest rate rise too on top people will lose their homes. I don't remember my parents saying every single item of food they bought had gone up by at least 20p and more. Everytime I go shopping everything has risen in price.

Most of my childhood we had a coal fire, at least until my teens when we got a gas fire. No central heating as kids though which meant the bedrooms and bathrooms were freezing most of the time in winter. It was a big thing when they bought a paraffin heater. This would be on the landing and put on when my dad got up for work at 5am and again an hour before we went to bed. We had hot water bottles too.

This is unprecedented, I don't remember anything as bad as this in my lifetime cost wise for fuel and everyday items. Businesses will go bust as it's not sustainable to stay open. I saw on Granada reports a local bakeries operating costs had risen from £1,000 to £2,000 a month, they are going to close. That will be the same for many others. The ones that do try and stay open will put up prices adding to customers burdens. I don't think anybody is asking the government to pay their fuel bills they just want them at a sustainable level. If very little is done people will die from cold, hunger and suicide, pushed over the edge. Already in this country thousands of pensioners die every winter as they freeze to death in homes they can't afford to heat and live on very little food. Many slip through the net for help as they don't have internet access or know how to get any help. A lot are too proud to accept what they see as charity too.

A massive crisis and as good ship Britain sails towards the iceberg we have a current prime minister telling us it's okay we're suffering because Ukraine is suffering more. Then we have dumb and dumber fighting to lead a party that has ruined Britain for everyone but the very wealthy. Tipping point is being reached if we're not there now.

I was speaking to one of my customers on Monday. I work in an industry that is heavily reliant on electricity. His monthly bill is rising from £3k to £9k. He's trying his best to get through the storm, but can't see how it's possible to remain profitable with those prices.

 

[marco]

And how does that make it cheaper?

sorry i didnt see the part i said it would make it cheaper but it needs putting back in Government hands, its a complete disaster just like everthing else, to late as the ship has sailed and just like the NHS its been bled dry through profitering, another fantastic idea from the Thatcher Government, were not coming out of this next winter and bang its all over 'not going to happen' prices will rise and rise

 

[paulchapo]

I was speaking to one of my customers on Monday. I work in an industry that is heavily reliant on electricity. His monthly bill is rising from £3k to £9k. He's trying his best to get through the storm, but can't see how it's possible to remain profitable with those prices.

It will be across the board too. Thousands of small businesses like hairdressers, cafes, coffee shops etcetera just won't be able to stay open as they will be operating at a loss. Meanwhile our Marie Antoinette government think posturing in Ukraine and squabbling to lead a morally bankrupt and inept party are more important than trying to save thousands of their electorates livelihoods and sanity.

 

[marco]

I was speaking to one of my customers on Monday. I work in an industry that is heavily reliant on electricity. His monthly bill is rising from £3k to £9k. He's trying his best to get through the storm, but can't see how it's possible to remain profitable with those prices.

looks like they may be scrapping the 20% VAT for them,lets hope so or there in dire trouble

 

[roypaulknewmyfather]

Does anyone on here have Solar Panels. Debating whether it would be worthwhile to buy some. I can afford the price rises, but if it makes more financial sense to make my house greener I will do that.

Yes, have had them for a couple of years with 14kwh batteries (two fairly small boxes). The control I have is able to be set to force a battery charge from the grid, I’ve got cheap electricity for 4 hours every night, in winter when not a lot of solar power I set the charge for those hours. We then use it in the day. This time of year the batteries charge during the day from the panels.Working out really well, we’re all electric so easy to judge costs, which are low spread over the year.

 

[A57 the snake]

If you see Sid tell him to F@ck off.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

looks like they may be scrapping the 20% VAT for them,lets hope so or there in dire trouble

Even so, that’s a £4.2k increase in energy costs using the £9k example.

That‘s a 140% increase. It’s just not managable.

 

[marco]

Even so, that’s a £4.2k increase in energy costs using the £9k example.

That‘s a 140% increase. It’s just not managable.

your right its not mate,the country is in a real state, come January id say were going to be on power cuts, national strikes you name it, rubbish strewn accross the streets of Glasgow where is it going, wish i could sell up and get out of this shithole

 

[Bigga]

Fuck Russia and anyone who thinks we should be buying their oil and gas.

I respect the majority of what you have to say, but I will disagree with you here. There should always be room for negotiation/ solution.

It doesn't help that this country voted in a government against their best interests, that have sent their tax money to subsidise these giants of business, who then boast their profits for all to see and then see their taxes given to Ukraine to fund their weapons for defence, once known, not long ago, as the most corrupt country/ Gov in Europe.

As a country, before the Tories came in, we had a chance to vote in a party who would have strived to invest in new energy rather than keep themselves linked to the chains of fossil fuels. We know how we're being squeezed for wages to add to the stresses.

It's all a perfect storm. I just don't believe people here, should die because of the inability to pay for essential necessities for what was/ is a proxy war.

Bear in mind, the way this country's government has set its stall out rimming private and big business, it's our parents, grandparents and poor income families that will suffer, partly for a war they're not involved in.

Fuck those people for needing Russian oil and gas, then.

 

[metalblue]

some shit is going in the log burner this winter,never mind pre dried logs at £3.50 a bag, do car tyres burn anyone?

Telegraph poles / old railway sleepers are brilliant - melt the glass hot (they don’t) and last a good while. If I close the vents up I’d still expect it to be alight in the morning albeit just the embers. Sleepers are on the pricey side these days as folk use them for garden features but poles shouldn’t be too bad - have a shop around.

 

[metalblue]

I couldn't say if it was the case that energy bills went down in real terms for 20 years running after privatisation. I always remember every year vast profits being reported by energy companies though, so if the customer was benefitting then it wasn't a form of charity as the energy firms were doing very nicely out of whatever we were paying too

@metalblue if that was the case and I'm not sure it is, it's been totally blown out of the water now. I don't remember my parents being in shock that the bills were going up double in a matter of months. Some people are going to be paying more for energy than they are for rent, it's unsustainable. The government has to do more or they will face vast bills to try and cope with huge amounts of people being homeless as with the interest rate rise too on top people will lose their homes. I don't remember my parents saying every single item of food they bought had gone up by at least 20p and more. Everytime I go shopping everything has risen in price.

Most of my childhood we had a coal fire, at least until my teens when we got a gas fire. No central heating as kids though which meant the bedrooms and bathrooms were freezing most of the time in winter. It was a big thing when they bought a paraffin heater. This would be on the landing and put on when my dad got up for work at 5am and again an hour before we went to bed. We had hot water bottles too.

This is unprecedented, I don't remember anything as bad as this in my lifetime cost wise for fuel and everyday items. Businesses will go bust as it's not sustainable to stay open. I saw on Granada reports a local bakeries operating costs had risen from £1,000 to £2,000 a month, they are going to close. That will be the same for many others. The ones that do try and stay open will put up prices adding to customers burdens. I don't think anybody is asking the government to pay their fuel bills they just want them at a sustainable level. If very little is done people will die from cold, hunger and suicide, pushed over the edge. Already in this country thousands of pensioners die every winter as they freeze to death in homes they can't afford to heat and live on very little food. Many slip through the net for help as they don't have internet access or know how to get any help. A lot are too proud to accept what they see as charity too.

A massive crisis and as good ship Britain sails towards the iceberg we have a current prime minister telling us it's okay we're suffering because Ukraine is suffering more. Then we have dumb and dumber fighting to lead a party that has ruined Britain for everyone but the very wealthy. Tipping point is being reached if we're not there now.

Same here mate. One coal fire for the whole house, mum with the newspaper to get a draw on it, it catching light more often than not, and ice on the inside of windows in winter. Went to bed fully dressed many nights. Lovely memories!! We got through it but it wasn’t pleasant and I’m not advocating for back to them days!!!

The main problem with the bills right now isn’t privatisation (although if it was state run you could argue government would be able to rob Peter to pay Paul) but is to do with how prices are pegged, it used to be pegged to oil plus refining now it’s down to spot gas prices - we have benefitted a lot from this decision (it was an EU decision not UK decision btw) over the last 20 years but now we are suffering the downside of that decision. If you added up all the money we saved we are still ahead of the game but that’s small comfort to us right now

Best thing energy companies can do right now is tell people not to worry, that they’ll come up with a plan to help spread the cost and that no one is getting cut off if they are paying at least what they pay now.

 

[paulchapo]

Same here mate. One coal fire for the whole house, mum with the newspaper to get a draw on it, it catching light more often than not, and ice on the inside of windows in winter. Went to bed fully dressed many nights. Lovely memories!! We got through it but it wasn’t pleasant and I’m not advocating for back to them days!!!

The main problem with the bills right now isn’t privatisation (although if it was state run you could argue government would be able to rob Peter to pay Paul) but is to do with how prices are pegged, it used to be pegged to oil plus refining now it’s down to spot gas prices - we have benefitted a lot from this decision (it was an EU decision not UK decision btw) over the last 20 years but now we are suffering the downside of that decision. If you added up all the money we saved we are still ahead of the game but that’s small comfort to us right now

Best thing energy companies can do right now is tell people not to worry, that they’ll come up with a plan to help spread the cost and that no one is getting cut off if they are paying at least what they pay now.

The cost to the government of not doing more will be dwarfed by the consequences if they don't, with sorting out the thousands and more homeless and out of work as a result.

 

[DunfermlineBlue]

Currently pay £80 for electric was getting offered a 1 year fix for £115 couple of weeks ago. just checked now and 1 year fix is £165 that’s £2k a year Just for electric!

 

[metalblue]

The cost to the government of not doing more will be dwarfed by the consequences if they don't, with sorting out the thousands and more homeless and out of work as a result.

I think your right on this. Especially with the vulnerable and cost of medical intervention. I do worry about the immune systems being able to fight off bugs when we are in the almost inevitable cold houses - like when we was kids. Plus when I was kids I used to eat mud so pretty much immune to every bug going. We built up a resistance.

Perhaps it’s not just the vulnerable - we might build up future health issues with kids etc. Politicians probably won’t care…future government problem to deal with

 

[paulchapo]

I think your right on this. Especially with the vulnerable and cost of medical intervention. I do worry about the immune systems being able to fight off bugs when we are in the almost inevitable cold houses - like when we was kids. Plus when I was kids I used to eat mud so pretty much immune to every bug going. We built up a resistance.

Perhaps it’s not just the vulnerable - we might build up future health issues with kids etc. Politicians probably won’t care…future government problem to deal with

It's a huge ticking timebomb. Thousands of excess deaths will happen this winter but that's never bothered them before I guess.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Most of my childhood we had a coal fire, at least until my teens when we got a gas fire. No central heating as kids though which meant the bedrooms and bathrooms were freezing most of the time in winter. It was a big thing when they bought a paraffin heater. This would be on the landing and put on when my dad got up for work at 5am and again an hour before we went to bed. We had hot water bottles too.

You had real hot water bottles ?!?!!??!!
Ha, seriously though mate, we used to fight over plastic bottles round our way, fill them with hot water and use them as many couldn’t afford a hot water bottle, but those paraffin heaters (or the little gas ones the council put in at the foot of the stairs) were an absolute godsend in winter.

Oddly about the coal fires though, as a kid always remember my Mam getting up early to get the fire going before we got up, we’d get dressed for school, have our breakfast, almost sitting on top of the fire, great days in some ways.

 

[Gray]

The Chancellor wants us to make economies.

 

[marco]

You had real hot water bottles ?!?!!??!!
Ha, seriously though mate, we used to fight over plastic bottles round our way, fill them with hot water and use them as many couldn’t afford a hot water bottle, but those paraffin heaters (or the little gas ones the council put in at the foot of the stairs) were an absolute godsend in winter.

Oddly about the coal fires though, as a kid always remember my Mam getting up early to get the fire going before we got up, we’d get dressed for school, have our breakfast, almost sitting on top of the fire, great days in some ways.

'''take your feet out of the fire you'l end up with bloody chilblains'''

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

The Chancellor wants us to make economies.

Politicians bug me when they say this when they are being paid over £100k a year when expenses are taken into account. Bet he won’t be making any!