Energy costs - is there any action we can take?

[PollyPeePants]

I know there have been some threads and apologies if I have missed it. But I have just been thinking a lot about the huge price hikes - and those for October and January alongside the record profits being reported by oil and gas companies. It makes me so angry at the injustice of it. And we have to take it.

It doesn't look like the government of going to do much - and in fact perhaps caused a lot of the current price rise impacts with the price cap changes.

But what if we all just decided we will not just take it? Is there anything we can do to show we cannot accept this? At first I was thinking should we all take to the streets like they might in other countries (eg France)?

Then I wondered - what if we all just decided to not pay our energy bills for a month. All of us. Just once. What would happen? Or these 'switch off' initiatives, is there any mileage in them? It just feels like a time for more direct action.

Yes, well I genuinely thought you meant prosecution. A CCJ is a problem if you own your home or have a mortgage I believe? Can your home be repossessed if you have a CCJ and still owe on your mortgage?

I already have CCJs and couldn't care less.

As I said above there will be many different approaches based off necessity and choice.

No and I haven't seen this campaign yet.
I just feel frustrated by the powerlessness - this is just being done to everyone and not much being done to avoid it really, so far.

As a PP said, neither of the two leadership candidates seem to be talking about it but the they are Tories.

Thanks I will sign this

There are loads of things you can do to reduce energy costs, probably the biggest impact one is to fit ceiling fans. Hot air rises, so 70% of all the heat you pay for is stuck next to the ceiling of your house, unused and wasted.
Use a ceiling fan (in reverse mode so it mixes hot and cold air without creating a draft), It costs from £70.00 (B&Q) for a fan/light combo and could simply replace your existing light, a simple DIY job,

This allows you to actually benefit from all the heat you pay for. Choice (the Australian version of Which magazine) says that in tests it reduces heating bills by up to 50% (this saving includes paying for the electricity needed to run the fans).
See www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/cooling/fans/articles/how-ceiling-fans-heat-your-home-and-save-you-money

A further benefit is that ceiling fans will make our homes much more comfortable in the heatwaves that we are now experiencing.

2/ Cooking (save 50%)
Use metal skewers to halve cooking times. Use a meat thermometer to stop from overcooking skewered meat.

Use a steamer instead of 4 separate pans. Cut vegetables and meat smaller, it then cooks much more quickly.

Lots of other tips and further details just ask....