What do you think this winter will really be like?

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I've done a bit too much doom scrolling tonight. Our landlord has just put our rent up by 120 pounds due to inflation and our fixed energy bill ends this month. I am starting to grow really concerned on how we are going to manage, as well as society as a whole. So many people are going to be in so much trouble I don't understand why there seems to be no plan!

What do you think this winter will really be like? The catastrophic rolling blackout, schools with 3 day weeks scenario, or do you think the government will do something to fix it. Somewhere in the middle of the two? Societal unrest?

I've never felt so uneasy living in this country before.

Depressing

I agree with hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. I think Government will have to do something, many people and businesses simply do not have the money to pay extortionate fuel bills.

However, I also think that we need a solution long term that moves us away from being so reliant on Russian gas and towards more self sufficient/renewable sources of energy. I'm prepared to be colder this Winter if it doesn't help Putin but I'm aware I say that from a place of privilege in being relatively young and in good health.

@Zeus44 ''Educate yourself OP''

Er, no, the OP the absolutely right.Johnson has done nothing whatsoever to address the crisis, beyond some abysmal comment about buying a new kettle, blaming the Ukraine war for everything (when our EU neighbours have managed to keep energy prices lower in the same circumstances) and pretending the we are not in a crisis. You are the one who sounds like they need ''educating''...I suggest stopping reading and believing Daily Mail propaganda.

To answer your question OP, I think the Tories have completely lost sight of reality.

Individuals are already struggling and businesses are starting to close because they can no longer afford their bills. My feeling is that Truss will be so bad as PM that we will start to see general strikes and will have an early election.

Lots of us around! I was at Uni during the three day week. Not much fun, don't relish the thought of living through anything like it again, most people survived though, so I feel pretty confident I can wrap up in my heated throw and survive this, so long as I don't get sick as the NHS is broken

I’m starting now, saving money where I can. I ordered some frivolous stuff from Next yesterday, but it’s going back. I don’t need it, and the time to start preparing is now.
But I am keeping the spiced latte candle I bought 🤣

I think it’s going to be tough. I am torn between thinking that the government must surely intervene, then looking at our likely next PM and thinking it’s a genuine possibility that they won’t - at least, not in a way that really helps. I don’t think you can use warm words and ideology to heat a house.

I know mumsnet is divided on them, but I’m really glad to have a log burner this winter, even though that won’t heat water for us. We can at least be warm downstairs. But I’m worried for others.

All the energy companies are submitting proposals. I think Scottish power and Ovo have done so so far.

Essentially the government will loan them money and we'll spread the cost out over the coming years. There's tinkering to be done over how this is done most fairly and to support those most in need.

This will be combined with windfall taxes on the energy producers like the £400 we are all getting (and extra for those at the bottom).

Energy is never going back to the very low fixed rates people enjoyed. We will all become much more aware of useage and for everyone but the sick and elderly we should get used to colder houses (not freezing dangerous houses but not a constant 23 degrees). As someone without central heating you do adapt and get used to it. I now feel ill staying places with central heating especially at night.

Heating bills will be higher but not to the ludicrous extent being thrown around. More people will move towards solar, heat pumps for more modern homes etc, better insulation.

Like covid did for working from home/hybrid working, this is accelerating a process we were already on the path to, just at a much, much quicker rate (and climate wise that's not all bad)

i heard a school on the radio recently saying their gas bill had gone from 200k to a nearly 800k. That is not sustainable so the gov will have to do something.

Energy is never going back to the very low fixed rates people enjoyed.

i think this is true.

To be fair, I was born 64 and am closer to 60 than 50. To remember the mid 60s clearly you would be approaching 70. Not elderly but certainly not middle aged.

the mid 60s was SIXTY YEARS AGO.

To 'remember' them you'd probably be 75+ now to have actually been aware of any real negative impact. You'd have been early 20s at the time.

So what did happen in the mid-60s? Have we actually established that? I thought the brownouts and the 3 day weeks and things were the seventies?

I know there was a terribly cold winter in the sixties with crazy amounts of snow - is that what that poster meant?

... fairly sure he is actually...

1963 i think was the very cold winter.

unbelievable Boris is still the prime minister, despite checking out

Like covid did for working from home/hybrid working, this is accelerating a process we were already on the path to, just at a much, much quicker rate (and climate wise that's not all bad)

Totally agree with this.

There is a very cynical part of me that is wondering how much of the energy price rises could be a front to forcing consumption down by stealth.

it means encouraging a totally different mindset
but we are spoiled having gas at the touch of a button
it is going to take some doing to change

This week two local businesses have closed and three have announced weekend only opening, all citing utility prices.
We have an arson attack in the local fields most days.
Our local hospital has ambulances queuing outside for hours and if you can even get the police to attend a crime, it's a miracle.
My prediction for energy for January alone is almost 1k.
I'm not a tabloid fan and I don't usually give in the hype, but it's not looking like a happy country.

The other day a friend of mine said that they are considering going abroad on the cheap for a lot of this winter, as they think it will be cheaper than staying at home.

We are one of those managing. But for how long when the prices keep going up. But in the wider society than people and their homes, we need to be concerned about everyone else who’s bills aren’t capped. Small businesses won’t survive without help even larger businesses are going to struggle with putting prices ridiculously up and then they’ll have fewer customers.

Places like schools, hospitals and medical centres ( plenty others) under the government or council/NHS umbrella that have their own set given budgets are already vocal in the fact they can’t manage these rises now nevermind later. They can’t cut heating/power use. Less staff to pay? Maybe? But what happens to your child’s education or the health service which is imploding already.

As for Liz Truss I think we are in for a rough ride with her and her cabinet. Wouldn’t look for much help there. She wants to make a name for herself and it won’t be in a good way.

Heating bills will be higher but not to the ludicrous extent being thrown around

Our gas and electricity bill is double this month compared to this time last year.

Prices are going up by a further 80% from October 1st.

Not sure which planet you're on to think this isn't a ludicrous rise, but could I please join you there? Here in the UK it ain't great.

Ms Truss will last 6 months max (and that's optimistic) as I think things will get pear-shaped quite rapidly.

Sorry OP but I think it will be a shit show of magnificent proportions. And no, I'm not enjoying it.

There is a very cynical part of me that is wondering how much of the energy price rises could be a front to forcing consumption down by stealth.

my cynical side thinks it's to push the older generations to downsize thus stopping the property market grinding to a halt. I can see them introducing a stamp duty relief for downsizers.

Nobody surely believes Boris

My dad was a teen in the mid 60s actually starting work come 66. He is only 71 now.

Do you not remember being a teenager? I was a teen in the 1990s and my memories are very clear. I remember lots of events in this country and around the world. Not just my own bubble.

I don’t think even Boris believes Boris any more.