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Original poster

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

103 replies

valerianroot · 22/09/2021 14:45

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!

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 23/09/2021 00:58

I did a couple of searches earlier to see if we could get a better deal.
First website found only 3 options; all more than we're paying now and the second comparison website found nothing for us.
So I guess I'll stay put with Eon then.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/09/2021 01:02

Lakilady, as it should be.

What is the government doing to help those who are going to struggle? Nothing! Just cut the 20 quid extra credit from UC.

LakieLady · 23/09/2021 06:48

Some of the price increases PPs have mentioned on here are breathtaking, @ArseInTheCoOpWindow.

I really worry about how people on low incomes are going to manage, especially with a cut in their income of £90 a month, and food and petrol going up at an alarming rate.

When people have very little spare money after essentials, they don't really have luxuries they can cut back on. To make up the money they have lost, and the extra they're going to have to spend on energy bills, that only leaves the essential stuff.

They're facing a worrying winter.

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Cost of living
Newnormal99 · 23/09/2021 06:50

@Snozzlemaid

I did a couple of searches earlier to see if we could get a better deal. First website found only 3 options; all more than we're paying now and the second comparison website found nothing for us. So I guess I'll stay put with Eon then.
Did you click the button that says 'show deals where I have to sign up direct with supplier' it shows very different results!
Newnormal99 · 23/09/2021 07:00

@NotMyCat

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!
I switched to sainsburys from bulb early Sunday morning and just noticed the fixed price deal they have now is a fair bit more than the one I signed up at. The daily charge has gone up 50% and unit rates are higher as well. Looks like I did it just in time. It was actually near enough same price as current tariff on bulb when I switched I just wanted the security.
Window1 · 23/09/2021 07:00

Our firm had gone bust.

Our fixed deal ended with them last month so assume we are on the variable rate.

What could/should I do right now?

I think I should be on you switch and moving to another fixed deal? Is that right? Will I be prevented from doing so as company is bust?

I'm kicking myself as usually arrange new deal in advance of old one ending. Blast.

TheReluctantPhoenix · 23/09/2021 07:14

It seems like a good old fashioned short squeeze to me.

Yes, there are some ‘real’ factors behind it (cold winter, problems with some infrastructure), but the reality is that we have more than enough gas, especially as we switch to renewable fuels.

However, it seems that many energy companies sold fixed price gas and failed to hedge themselves by buying gas forward. That means that they are now scrambling to buy gas as they are losing money on every cubic metre of gas used.

And of course commodity traders sniff the blood in the water and push the price higher and higher.

After the shorts are covered, the wholesale price will fall dramatically. How much of the fall will be passed back to consumers is debatable.

This is the ugly side of capitalism, and especially treating a commodity that everyone needs as a plaything for making money.

delilahbucket · 23/09/2021 10:23

We're with octopus and on the variable standard, have been for years as it's always been the cheapest. Our gas bill is going up £12 a month. If we fix in now, £26 a month. Experts expect the high prices to last 3-4 months. We're going to stick it out.

StarCat2020 · 23/09/2021 13:23

Yes, there are some ‘real’ factors behind it (cold winter, problems with some infrastructure), but the reality is that we have more than enough gas, especially as we switch to renewable fuels
The wind has not blown much this summer so we have used more gas in power stations.

Renewables are great but not the be all and end all. .

For example, today is still but cloudy.

When you say "renewable fuels", do you mean biomass?

www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

Window1 · 23/09/2021 13:36

@delilahbucket

We're with octopus and on the variable standard, have been for years as it's always been the cheapest. Our gas bill is going up £12 a month. If we fix in now, £26 a month. Experts expect the high prices to last 3-4 months. We're going to stick it out.
Tempted to do the same and look again at a fix in around April.
ChimChimeny · 24/09/2021 14:31

@Window1

Our firm had gone bust.

Our fixed deal ended with them last month so assume we are on the variable rate.

What could/should I do right now?

I think I should be on you switch and moving to another fixed deal? Is that right? Will I be prevented from doing so as company is bust?

I'm kicking myself as usually arrange new deal in advance of old one ending. Blast.

The advice is don't switch because it'll make it harder for your credit to go to the new company.

We're just waiting to find out what deal we'll be on...

Window1 · 24/09/2021 15:57

Thanks @ChimChimeny

I don't think we have any credit. Possible owe them or roughly balanced out.

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 24/09/2021 16:28

I listened to Martin Lewis who said to switch a few months ago and fix because prices will be rising. I did precisely that and now the company has gone bust 🤦🏼‍♀️ Seriously worried about the added costs during winter.

fedup078 · 24/09/2021 20:22

Since I entered my extortionate fixed tariff 24hrs ago it had gone up another £10 with an early exit fee of £200 😮😮😮😮😮

Original poster
valerianroot · 29/09/2021 13:37

We've just been able to switch to Scottish Power and saved £50 a month. Might be worth a check for anyone who was in the same boat as us.

OP posts:
Claudethecat · 29/09/2021 14:01

@valerianroot

We've just been able to switch to Scottish Power and saved £50 a month. Might be worth a check for anyone who was in the same boat as us.
I woudl be really careful with Scottish Power, as I think their site is misleading.

They gave me a quote which was £30 pcm less than what I am paying now, but it was based on an estimated usage not my actual usage. The estimated usage for gas was far lower than my actual usage, hence the cheap quote. I couldn't find a way to enter my actual usage, but a comparison of the tariffs shows that the ones I am on now are much lower than SP.

GingerFoxInAT0phat · 29/09/2021 14:10

I’ve been moved the Shell energy from Green, darent even look at the prices!

Tangledtresses · 29/09/2021 14:10

My fixed rate ends in December 🙄

Eon are quoting me £167 pm

It used to be £79 pm.... what the hell!!?
M

Original poster
valerianroot · 29/09/2021 14:36

@Claudethecat - thanks for the heads up. I'll double check that.

OP posts:
Window1 · 29/09/2021 18:25

Think we have been moved to octopus energy / no idea on prices though

ImperialQueenofMoo · 29/09/2021 19:15

I fixed mine again a few weeks ago but it still increased from £64 to £95 a month. Checked at the weekend and the best deal from that supplier is now £138!!!!!

Bedsheets4knickers · 06/10/2021 06:29

We are going to look at energy suppliers tonight as the horror stories of huge price hikes have got the better of me . I'm going to also try and really be energy savvy this winter and try to cut costs where possible . I might nip into to primark this week and get some throws for us to wrap ourselves in for the evenings .
It's actually worrying me quite a lot . We can afford the hike but we are desperately saving for a house deposit and we don't need the extra expensive.

Crunchymum · 06/10/2021 07:36

I'm with Shell and I already had an increase from £90 to £128 a few months back (I hadn't been giving my monthly readings though so hope this was the reason)

Large 2 bed, badly insulated Victorian house.

Newnormal99 · 08/10/2021 06:37

@Bedsheets4knickers

We are going to look at energy suppliers tonight as the horror stories of huge price hikes have got the better of me . I'm going to also try and really be energy savvy this winter and try to cut costs where possible . I might nip into to primark this week and get some throws for us to wrap ourselves in for the evenings . It's actually worrying me quite a lot . We can afford the hike but we are desperately saving for a house deposit and we don't need the extra expensive.
I'd be wary about fixing now though unless you can leave with no penalty as I think fixed rates have been hiked up and you could find yourself paying over the odds in 6 months time.
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