This is getting ridiculous (energy prices)

[b0rn2sk8]

We need to reduce demand for energy. What if we were to mandate moving everyone to smart meters, that way we could charge X amount for first 4 kWh electricity used, then increase the charge per kWh used in tiers, that way the heaviest users would pay the most.

4kwh a day is nothing, basically a fridge and a freezer for the day. Sounds like a great life. The most frugal of users are doing 8-10kwh IF they have gas for heating.

Those who you are targeting will just install solar to cover any additional consumption as the tax makes it even more viable. Those it hurts the most with electric heating, can’t afford to mitigate against the cost.

 

[ci_newman]

4kwh a day is nothing, basically a fridge and a freezer for the day. Sounds like a great life. The most frugal of users are doing 8-10kwh IF they have gas for heating.

Those who you are targeting will just install solar to cover any additional consumption as the tax makes it even more viable. Those it hurts the most with electric heating, can’t afford to mitigate against the cost.

Exactly, my house uses 3.6kWh per day even when everything is powered off except the basics when I go on holiday. We typically do 9kWh / day but wife and I both WFH 5 days a week and we have two kids. I'm as frugal as I can be without sacrificing quality of life (e.g. stop washing laundry, cancel my internet and wifi)

 

[Richie]

https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/vouchers/disney-3-month-subscription/UK-010043.prd

I see... So although I'll be freezing my knackers off on the outside, the raft of Disney feel good movies will keep me feeling all warm and snuggly on the inside

^^^ this is tongue in cheek, the sentiment of saving money is well received tho

 

[S_T]

Anyone got any suggestions solutions then or just here to whinge ?

I think most people will have higher bills yes but I think most people never really thought about how to save energy either. So whilst the units rates are going up and the ‘average’ number the press love to use. I think reality will be that people are now more aware of the energy they use and will drop their consumption.

Insulate, insulate, insulate. Some things such as underfloor, loft and wall insulation already paid for themselves pretty quickly prior to bills doubling. Another big one is draughtproofing - makes lower ambient room temperatures a lot more comfortable.
If you are thinking of staying in your current home for the next 5-10 years you could probably financially justify spending quite a bit of money on these measures if you are of the belief that these bills aren't going to reduce by any substantial amount, anytime soon.
I also don't think its unreasonable to imagine that in ten years time people will place a higher value on some of these measures than the more superficial elements of a house that are valued today.

 

[Raumarik]

Draughtproofing is a big one especially in old council houses like mine. I will be getting our windows done at some point but getting our roof replaced helped a lot (no loft as attic conversion) but even keeping doors closed can help trap that heat in.

 

[bigmike20vt]

I have seen people insulating walls inside a house but I would worry about lost space inside and looking odd around doors and sockets

sorry if already covered but . can you get external insulation, ie maybe putting something down then covering with hardie plank or something.

 

[1pudding1]

Yes, external wall insulation is most definitely a thing and is better than internal insulation for a variety of reasons, as long as its possible on your house.

 

[GIBURROWS]

Getting rid of the standing charges would be what I would like in a dream world but also UK owned utility companies so that we aren't feeling the pinch when they're gloating about record profits.

Also in my version of Utopia I wouldn't be paying £25 a month for 34mb broadband when a friend about a mile away is paying £40 for 900mb!

 

[S_T]

I have seen people insulating walls inside a house but I would worry about lost space inside and looking odd around doors and sockets

sorry if already covered but . can you get external insulation, ie maybe putting something down then covering with hardie plank or something.

Yes, you can get external but it's very expensive, and also you encounter the same problems as with internal insulation ref doors/windows/pipes/guttering. Although resolving these is probably where some of the expense comes from. The cheapest and easiest method is cavity wall insulation - there is a lot of noise about this, with people having issues with damp etc. Although this could be largely a small, vocal minority who were serviced by cowboys during the government grant boom.
Personally, after a lot of research I am leaning toward the internal insulation route as I can do it room by room. I live in a Victorian Terrace, with the kitchen/bathroom and smaller 3rd bedroom in a semi-detached extension to the rear. So the main living rooms/bedrooms have very little external wall as it is and not in any rush to insulate the kitchen/bathroom.

 

[Surveyor]

Getting rid of the standing charges would be what I would like in a dream world but also UK owned utility companies so that we aren't feeling the pinch when they're gloating about record profits.

Also in my version of Utopia I wouldn't be paying £25 a month for 34mb broadband when a friend about a mile away is paying £40 for 900mb!

Everything covered by the standing charges would have to be paid for through unit rates. Do think you'd be better off that way?

Also, which of the utility companies are gloating about record profits?

 

[GIBURROWS]

SSE, British gas, Shell, BP.

I would prefer everything to be covered by unit prices that way when everything is off I know it shouldn't cost me a thing.

 

[SDK^]

I would prefer everything to be covered by unit prices that way when everything is off I know it shouldn't cost me a thing.

Which is exactly why it's not set that way ! [You just answered your own dream]

 

[Simon]

SSE, British gas, Shell, BP.

I would prefer everything to be covered by unit prices that way when everything is off I know it shouldn't cost me a thing.

Bp are not a utility company.

 

[Surveyor]

I would prefer everything to be covered by unit prices that way when everything is off I know it shouldn't cost me a thing.

So you want someone else to pay to maintain your supply etc.

SSE, British gas, Shell, BP.

Which of those are making record profits supplying gas and electricity to homes and gloating about it?

 

[Simon]

And certainly it’s not from U.K. sales alone. Usually it’s U.K. petrol sales making them billions (there is a world outside the U.K.).

But hey let’s Saudi aramco and other foreign colonies make all the money instead so that our companies don’t. Don’t worry about the missing dividends to fund U.K. pensions and no one to invest billions in green energy.

 

[robgmun]

Same here - but we don’t really need it, and I’d rather it went to someone who does need it.
On the £200 rebate loan, it will help people who really struggle to raise money to pay their bill.If it’s worthless to you then sounds like you don’t need support anyway.

It's worthless because my enegry costs have doubled to at least £2400 and £200 is going to be a drop in the bucket because as of now, my outgoings are going to be higher than my income.

 

[SDK^]

It's worthless because my enegry costs have doubled to at least £2400 and £200 is going to be a drop in the bucket because as of now, my outgoings are going to be higher than my income.

Time to cut back your energy use then

 

[jpaul]

I would prefer everything to be covered by unit prices that way when everything is off I know it shouldn't cost me a thing.

how often is everything actually off.
but, as I have said on previous posts , the first daily units should be cheaper which would mean the total daily cost divided by units is the same for low users as big users.

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These windfall profits by the generating companies , I've not heard whether the actual suppliers (still in business) themselves, are making a profit ..
for those that did buy on the futures market they could still be in the money - so maybe we are not shaming all the right people.

 

[arknor]

Everything covered by the standing charges would have to be paid for through unit rates. Do think you'd be better off that way?

the poorest would be better off, the ones who use the least electricity are the ones most impacted by the standing charges

 

[Richie]

Time to cut back your energy use then

What if you realistically can't cut it back in any meaningful way?

3 bed semi using 3800kwh of gas and 1100kwh electric annually. I mentioned this before and was told this is extremely low so can I cut my usage in a meaningful way?

When I say "meaningful", it's to prevent the "if you do this, it'll save you £5/year" crowd trying to be smart.