My heating was on for two hours yesterday…

[AchillesLastStand]

My heating was on for two hours yesterday, on in the morning for an hour and in the evening. We had one bath yesterday which the boiler heats the water for. We shared the same water. I logged onto Bulb to see the energy costs for yesterday, £4.50 for gas, £3.50 for electricity. It’s unsustainable if it goes up again in October. My 8 year old DS is under his bedcovers with his tablet because the heating has had to go off.

I put the heating on at 7.50pm then checked prepayment meter 1 hour later is its uses over £1 and I still have my jumper on because its not warm.
This is ridiculous how are people supposed to manage on these prices.

Sal

@RewildingAmbridge

We don't have a landline plugged in, we don't use it, nothing is left on standby overnight, phone chargers are not plugged in, I've actually taken to charging my phone in the car whenever I get in it, I'm not turning the fridge freezer off every night. So this morning's £1.65 was standing charge, 30 minutes heating hot water through the boiler and one boil of the kettle with two cups with of water in it.

That's expensive. Mine is now at 1.71 for today with the new charges and that is all the usual plus a 1 hr 27 min wash which cost 46p.

@VanGoghsDog I didn't mean to be patronising, but in your original post you said you are with Eon who tell you that all your power comes from renewable sources, and you wondered why that was affecting the price cap. The implication of that statement to me was that you, er, thought all your power was coming from renewable sources only!

[quote Brownlongearedbat]@VanGoghsDog I didn't mean to be patronising, but in your original post you said you are with Eon who tell you that all your power comes from renewable sources, and you wondered why that was affecting the price cap. The implication of that statement to me was that you, er, thought all your power was coming from renewable sources only![/quote]
Yes, then you explained, I checked it out, posted the information from the Eon website, including "the small print", and agreed with you by saying they were lying then.

But no, obviously I didn't think they somehow separated out the power.

This thread reminds me of this twitter thread only not as funny twitter.com/JimMFelton/status/1510186325789618176?t=gKAN62aShwUoLOxRL03eZw&s=19

I'm already back in the office full time, with zero payrise this yr I don't want to spend money on elec and heating just to work at home.

I used a heated blanket and that got me through the day this winter but now the office is back open this winter I'll be in the office every day. I got myself a cinema pass as I love movies so I'm looking to spend less time in my house as muc has reasonbaly possible. Plus its nice change from being stuck indoors so much due to covid.

The only thing is having to dry clothes in winter and having to use a dehumidifier! Might be time to make sure I have enough clothes for 2 weeks before I need to do a wash

We live in a new house with an Air Source Heat Pump, we have a woodburner so the heating is very rarely on but everything is electric.

These are not particularly efficient. Expensive to install with a massive payback.

I've been accused of being facetious before (and I'm really not) but it still stands that for the vast majority, these increases won't significantly affect their lifestyle. The average consumer uses 8.5 kwh per day. We are talking 30-40 pounds extra per month after the price gap rise.
If this puts you on the breadline then you were already on the breadline.

@Flipflopssndsocks

It’s mad. I don’t have a smart meter so have a book to record usage so I can work cost out. It’s scary. Dh can’t work due to ill health and go back to standard variable mortgage rate soon as well. Struggling to remortgage due to missing dogs income and price rises so I don’t want to think about October!

Sorry to hear about DH. Is he claiming all the benefits he is entitled to such as Personal Independence Payment and possibly New Style Employment & Support Allowance if he hasn't been off work for long?

I am a pensioner and I am worried when I read these posts. I have solar panels and an air source heat pump as well as being on a fixed tarrif until September. I am glad I did the heat pump which I admit I was able to do because I sold my home and moved further out so the extra money I invested in the heat pump and solar panels. I did not have a crystal ball but I am so glad I did it now. I doubt I am cushioned as I do expect my energy bill to shoot up when I get to next September but I do have fingers crossed that by then things will be better and the October anticipated change will not be too horrendous.

@prettyLittlefool

I've been accused of being facetious before (and I'm really not) but it still stands that for the vast majority, these increases won't significantly affect their lifestyle. The average consumer uses 8.5 kwh per day. We are talking 30-40 pounds extra per month after the price gap rise. If this puts you on the breadline then you were already on the breadline.

You seem to have forgotten gas in that as well.

The average gas use is 30 KWH per day.
12,000 KWH per year

Do the maths

We haven't used the heating for a good few years now. Used to have hot running water but not for the last year since we moved as boiler needs fixing. Use a kettle of boiling water for washing up once a day and electric shower 1-2 times a week. Electric blanket on bed and on sofa. Line dry in summer but probably use my tumble dryer way too much!

Yes I did forget gas but as someone who's on oil where is no cap or limit, trust me I'd rather be on gas ! 500 litres of oil went from £350 to over £1000. But it will recover slowly.

@prettyLittlefool

Yes I did forget gas but as someone who's on oil where is no cap or limit, trust me I'd rather be on gas ! 500 litres of oil went from £350 to over £1000. But it will recover slowly.

Which somewhat affects your point about the breadline

There will be people who will be fine with this.
But with electric / gas / oil increases, petrol increases, high inflation - people who aren't on the breadline will be finding it much harder.

@MrMrsJones

When I was a kid, we only had heating in the lounge.

People have got too comfortable with hot houses

What a terrible attitude! This is 2022! Just because you had it bad, doesn’t mean you should wish hardship on others! We live in the 6th richest country in the world and under this awful, corrupt, greedy government, costs have spiralled for ordinary people - food banks number 2000 plus and many users work full time! It’s shameful and saying it was the same multiple decades ago, shows how little progress we have made!

Yes. A bit harder yes. My point is that it isn't driving most middle earners to poverty as much as a lot would have you believe.

When I was a girl there was no central heating. Only a coal fire and upstairs no heating at all. There was no double glazing either and I remember you Couid see your breath in the winter when I was in bed, and I used to each a hand out and snap off the icicles from around the window frames. I used to have my uniform on the end of the bed and take them into bed with me to try to warm them up a bit before I put them on.
I had thought I’d never be in that situation again and that others generally wouldn’t either but I think a lot of people will be again when you can’t afford to put the heating on anyway.

Hi, ask your current mortgage provider what fixed rates they have. Often you can do what they call a product switch without any fees. I would ask them when you have 6 months left on your current mortgage deal.

@prettyLittlefool

Yes. A bit harder yes. My point is that it isn't driving most middle earners to poverty as much as a lot would have you believe.

It won't.

But it will affect more people who are already just about managing.

I seem to remember the "JAMS" were the key target group a few years ago. Not anymore it seems.

I haven’t had the heating on today but I have a really cold house, all my 4 year old has done all day is moan how cold she was despite giving her layers, blanket etc.

We've got the heating on, I've got loads of washing to dry that didn't dry properly on the line.

One of the annoying things about this is that people can save money by making improvements in their home. Increasing insulation, double glazing, radiator valves, solar panels etc. All these things will save money.

However, you need money to invest in improvements. But there are people who can't afford to invest and who don't qualify for grants etc.

So they carry on paying more money and can't save money to invest in improvements.

Meanwhile, people who can afford improvements will be able to carry them out and will save more money.

@lollipoprainbow

Just because we didn't have heating back in the day doesn't mean it's acceptable now in the 20th century in one of the richest countries in the world. Why should we have to live in a cold house ??

Exactly! I lived without heating until I was 14.. the day my parents put central heating in was the best day of my life! Yeah, we did live without it but it was bloody horrible. I always remember getting washed at the bathroom sink going to school in the morning and I was so cold! A warm house is a basic human right. The government needs to act fast to provide alternative cheap energy.

*12:30MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler

@AchillesLastStand
If you actually read both my posts you would see that I specifically stated we need to find a way to protect and help the most vulnerable during this time.

This does not make my other points null and void. A huge proportion of people are wasteful and lazy.

A huge proportion of people also voted for this government, repeatedly. The phrase ‘you reap what you sow’ comes to mind. The idea that these Tory shit bags care about ordinary people is laughable. Will the voting public put two and two together?? I wonder…*

I am an old cynic and would say that MPs only care about themselves whichever party they belong to. You should have met our old Labour MP

Isn’t the fridge/freezer usually on anyway? There are some things that are always plugged in (might have to rethink the plug in clocks).