I know there are probably another 100 threads on this topic but OMFG energy bill price hikes!

[valerianroot]

So do feel free to ignore if you're bored of the subject but I'm really shocked about our fuel bill. It's doubled from £100 to £200 a month for a 3 bedroom house, heating off and reasonably well insulated. It's shocking, well I was shocked anyway!

@theworldsbiggestcrocodile that is really interesting, thanks for sharing.

Like @lunariagal, we were with EDF paying £81 DD a month (dual fuel, gas boiler) and that's pretty accurate as only £26 in credit. Fix ending 15th October, went to check online and next tariff was £172!!!! Couldn't believe it. We're just two adults in a small two bed flat!

Switched to a small company called SO Energy on £101 a month DD (which basically works out to the cap for now). Using this as an opportunity to get really intentional about our energy use and getting out of lazy habits, and hope we can make it through a WFH winter without needing to top up account too much.

I won't be surprised if SO goes bust tomorrow, but I prefer to support the smaller renewable-led ones than EON or the others (I was put on EDF after Green Network Energy went bust earlier this year!)

It's an absolute shitshow and I think Kwarteng is doing a terrible job, "not rewarding failure" my arse; hasn't stopped them bailing out the banks before. The government just doesn't want to be accountable for why this is happening in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with one of the highest levels of taxation, and a country that really should have a solid energy infrastructure. This should not be happening in modern day UK.

Sorry. I'm angry, and I hate this government.

I just changed from bulb to sainsburys before they pulled the fixed price deal
1p per kWh cheaper and 8p less per day standing charge and fixed for a year so I took it!

but if they go bust would I lose it?

Ours have gone bust but we've been told our Money goes to the new supplier

@FlyingFlamingo

But having no credit on your account would mean your DD increases to cover the expected winter increase so you aren't any better off

[quote TrueRefuge]@theworldsbiggestcrocodile that is really interesting, thanks for sharing.

Like @lunariagal, we were with EDF paying £81 DD a month (dual fuel, gas boiler) and that's pretty accurate as only £26 in credit. Fix ending 15th October, went to check online and next tariff was £172!!!! Couldn't believe it. We're just two adults in a small two bed flat!

Switched to a small company called SO Energy on £101 a month DD (which basically works out to the cap for now). Using this as an opportunity to get really intentional about our energy use and getting out of lazy habits, and hope we can make it through a WFH winter without needing to top up account too much.

I won't be surprised if SO goes bust tomorrow, but I prefer to support the smaller renewable-led ones than EON or the others (I was put on EDF after Green Network Energy went bust earlier this year!)

It's an absolute shitshow and I think Kwarteng is doing a terrible job, "not rewarding failure" my arse; hasn't stopped them bailing out the banks before. The government just doesn't want to be accountable for why this is happening in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with one of the highest levels of taxation, and a country that really should have a solid energy infrastructure. This should not be happening in modern day UK.

Sorry. I'm angry, and I hate this government.[/quote]
The price of fuel is rising around the globe, the real issue is that they didn't regulate small suppliers more effectively. These companies sprung up to take advantage of cheap prices, established companies didn't drop prices ridiculously low as they're ever changing, it wasn't going to be low forever and so the big companies approach is far more sustainable than undercutting. These companies more than likely knew they wouldn't withstand prices rising, which they were always going to- the speed its happened is the only surprising thing. Why should they be bailed out? I do think that the government should look into the green taxes and stuff though to make it more affordable.

[quote ChimChimeny]@FlyingFlamingo

But having no credit on your account would mean your DD increases to cover the expected winter increase so you aren't any better off [/quote]
I’ve also managed to reduce the dd a few times because we have so much credit so I don’t really want to take anything out. I’ve had a look on MSE and my £300 should be safe 🤞

Sorry. I'm angry, and I hate this government

You haven't done anything wrong and it is understandable.

@FlyingFlamingo

I’m not sure if anyone knows the answer to this but here goes…we are with Ovo, and just started a new fixed price contract. Because of the time of year I am £300 in credit. I’ve left it there to top up our winter usage but if they go bust would I lose it? Am I better off withdrawing it and putting it in my savings account?

Ofgem guarantees you keep your credit. When they appoint a new supplier it forms part of the negotiation who foots the bill for your credit but you won't lose it.

I was with Green Network energy that went under at the start of the year and was moved to EDF. This took months and was a total mess. Our fix with EDF ends shortly and looking around for new prices is crazy. We are electric only and previous direct debit is £82 a month, new prospective prices start at £190 a month for us. That's a massive jump I can't afford. It's going to be an awful winter for lots of people like us.

EDF is owned by the French state and owns our nuclear fleet of power stations.

Is it me or is it just ridiculous that the French state rather than the UK run these things?

Tmwe need a nationalised service.

The power it’s in the 1970’s were due to the miners and electrician strikes, not power prices.

I have fond memories of playing murder in the dark from those times! Candles everywhere.

Power cuts🙄

@ChimChimeny

We are with octopus, fixed in June, but that might disappear if they fold.

DH told me Octopus are Which's highest rated so you should be ok. Plus the fact he's heard of them shows they must be a decent size!

I'm also watching Octopus as I switched to them a year ago (recommended by a friend). I'm not switching my Aga on for the moment, though, as I"m currently paying £300 per month and am in credit (for once!) as a result of switching the Aga off. The DC are at university, so I'm using very little energy - a twice daily shower, and that's it. Happily, I'm peri-menopausal so am roasting most of the time, without any additional heating.

Ofgem suggest that people may wish to cancel their direct debit for any energy company which goes bust. I’ve just cancelled mine.

So I'm just getting my head around this.
I'm guessing I should go with the £104 fixed rate till 2024 £30 exit fee as the variable is Likely to go well above £104.
I've only just managed to gain access to the account as it was in exes name
This is a £51 increase on what I'm paying as a single parent

[quote ChimChimeny]@Kezzie200 we are already really strict with our usage, if we want to cut down it will literally be not having the heating on even if it's cold 😔

WFH over winter won't help, not sure if it's cheaper paying for gas/electric or the petrol for commuting. Anyone got any idea?! [/quote]
If you're WFH use a hot water bottle and layer up. If you do put the heating on limit it to the rooms you are using.

I never turned my radiators off before but this year I'll be isolating the rooms.

I'm a SAHM and DS is 2. I won't allow it to be cold in here but for example. I'll turn the kitchen radiator off because I really don't need that one on.
The bedrooms will go off until the evening to allow the rooms to be nice and warm for bedtimes.
The bathroom will also go off until before bath time to allow the bathroom to be warm before baths.

@fedup078

So I'm just getting my head around this. I'm guessing I should go with the £104 fixed rate till 2024 £30 exit fee as the variable is Likely to go well above £104. I've only just managed to gain access to the account as it was in exes name This is a £51 increase on what I'm paying as a single parent

For an extra £2 a month I'd probably go for the £106

@BlueberrySugar
Omg thanks for pointing that out I could have sworn that was a £30 exit fee too when I looked at it

[quote fedup078]@BlueberrySugar
Omg thanks for pointing that out I could have sworn that was a £30 exit fee too when I looked at it [/quote]
Don't take my word as I'm useless at stuff like this but from what it says it seems like the better deal

@BlueberrySugar no you were right
Means if things change I can get out of it easily for a cheaper option
Variable is too much of a gamble at the moment
It's a £53 increase for me

[quote fedup078]@BlueberrySugar no you were right
Means if things change I can get out of it easily for a cheaper option
Variable is too much of a gamble at the moment
It's a £53 increase for me [/quote]
Ah ok, yes fixed will be the best for the time being! Good luck!

My fixed tariff came to an end but was still a good rate (and cheaper than fixing) so I left it. Like a previous poster, I re-fixed it when the price hikes rumours began to circulate. Didn’t I initially fix after looking into it. Wished I had because the price went up again.

I managed to get this one
Ignore the red circles, I was pointing out the rates to my dad! Works out cheaper for me
Currently use about £10pm gas and £35 electric

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Tmwe need a nationalised service.

Like we used to have, before the Thatcher government privatised it.

I used to work for one of the regional gas suppliers. If they wanted to put up prices beyond a certain percentage, they had to justify it to the govt. And they could only hold on to a surplus if it was invested in improvements, upgrades etc.