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Original poster

Gas and electricity bills to soar

783 replies

Cosmos123 · 18/09/2021 17:33

This is worrying as it will push many into fuel poverty.
Rising food prices and empty shelves.
Is anyone worried?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Claudethecat · 20/09/2021 09:40

@PattyPan

Definitely get on MSE both to find a tariff and for ways to cut your usage. We are not on the cheapest tariff and pay £47 a month for gas and electricity combined, even with wfh - I am always shocked at how much some posters on MN seem to use.
Who are you with @PattyPan? That is very cheap! Are you in a house or a flat?
Wotwhywhen · 20/09/2021 09:47

@ParsleyintheJar
Thanks for the good thoughts.
I was checking "The Bag" yesterday.
Shelter, water, warmth and spare clothes all present and correct.

PattyPan · 20/09/2021 09:53

@Claudethecat I’m with Good Energy who I love, they have really good customer service. I’m in a 2 bed mid terrace house and we are careful with our usage Smile

SlipperyLizard · 20/09/2021 09:53

My supplier has recently emailed notifying me of a 25% increase. We used to pay £120 a month but lockdown made that higher, hard to tell what the “new normal” will be, but clearly £150+ per month is what we’re looking at. We switch regularly & price comparison sites say we are on the lowest tariff available. Our heating is never set to more than 19 (even that is rare), and is never on during the day, so I don’t think we can reduce our usage much.

We’ll be ok, but I fear for families who will be hit hard by this, food prices & the NIC hike.

Limejuiceandrum · 20/09/2021 09:56

Do people really have heating on over night (I know I’m missing point of thread)

LakieLady · 20/09/2021 09:57

@OrangeBananaFish

I've just had a quick look. My fixed tariff runs out in November. I'm on electricity only (we have an oil tank for heating) which is been quoted at an extra £50 a month.

Since going back to the office 5 days a week (not allowed to WFH) and petrol has gone up, food has gone up, UC and wages will be decreasing. I just about break even now. Really don't know how I'm going to get through all this TBH. Luckily the oil tank has just been filled so we will be warm, just will be sat bored in the dark with no electricity.

That's just brought back memories of the planned power cuts during the miners' strike in 1974. We spent a lot of time playing board games by candlelight, huddled close to the gas fire in our draughty rented flat, and gave thanks that we had a gas cooker, so could make hot drinks and fill hot water bottles!

I used to work for a regional gas supplier pre-privatisation. If they wanted to put up prices, they had to show why they needed to, and the government could refuse or reduce the price increase if they didn't feel it was justified. And any "profit" had be invested in improving services.

I know the concept of nationalised industries seems dangerously Soviet these days, but as far as prices go, it was better for the customer.

Ifailed · 20/09/2021 10:02

I've just renewed with E.on and will go from paying £63 pm to £64 pm for gas and electric. That's a 2 year fixed deal.

Claudethecat · 20/09/2021 10:03

Thanks @PattyPan. Will have a look.

FAQs · 20/09/2021 10:04

@NotMyCat my bulb account is saying the same! I’m in credit, not a huge amount but enough to be upset about if I lose it. Plus all those jobs at risk.

PattyPan · 20/09/2021 10:04

@Limejuiceandrum

Do people really have heating on over night (I know I’m missing point of thread)
I know, no wonder bills are so high! Bedrooms are supposed to be slightly cool.
anonymousanne · 20/09/2021 10:08

@Mooloolabababy

It's definitely a concern for us. We already pay £190 a month for gas and electricity and that's for a 3 bed semi with an open fire and a log burner so no gas used for a gas fire!
Can't be right? Don't understand how varied payments are! 3 bed semi here, central heating only (on set temp day and night in cold months due to little ones in the house). For gas and electric we pay about £60 in the summer months and £90 in the winter months. Never paid more than £90. I'm not sure how much it's set to rise (still in a fixed) but so far always felt the costs were fair in my household but cringe when I read how much others have to pay!
LeafOfTruth · 20/09/2021 10:09

[quote FAQs]@NotMyCat my bulb account is saying the same! I’m in credit, not a huge amount but enough to be upset about if I lose it. Plus all those jobs at risk.[/quote]
You won't lose it - if Bulb go bust you will be moved to another company who will honour the credit you had with Bulb at the end.

WoodburnersRUs · 20/09/2021 10:09

I only have an electric central heating system - it is set to come on if the house falls below 11 Degrees. We’re rural so no mains gas, oil seemed like a bad idea and so I had a woodburner fitted last year which throws out so much heat and we have been self sufficient in wood so far.

That, plenty of cashmere from eBay and the heated throw and hopefully we will barely have to use the heating at all. It sometimes clicks on in the night in Jan/Feb but I’ll do a lot to stop my £90 pcm energy bill going up.

GingerBeverage · 20/09/2021 10:10

Just got email to say monthly DD going from 100 to 200

mum2jakie · 20/09/2021 10:13

@Limejuiceandrum

Do people really have heating on over night (I know I’m missing point of thread)
Yeah we used to when the kids were younger. Radiator always turned off in our room but heating on elsewhere overnight. It was freezing at night and it kept the kids asleep! Now they are older we don't need to so not sure what we'll do this winter. Not needed to put the heating on as yet this Autumn
ancientgran · 20/09/2021 10:16

@Etherel

Why are some companies so much cheaper?

I have just signed up to an estimated £73pcm dual fuel deal, fixed for 2 years (although I can cancel anytime). Was offered to me by a big company while I was doing my weekly shop and is about £20pcm cheaper than I am currently paying.

Be careful, this happened to an elderly relative. A year later they had a huge bill as they hadn't paid enough. I think they were offered a low deal to get them to sign but it wasn't enough to cover their usage.
anonymousanne · 20/09/2021 10:18

@coolhwip

Sorry can someone explain fixed tariffs to me? We’ve always just had standard tariffs.

We are in a 3 bed end terrace and pay £36 for gas and £30 for electricity, although we’ve never given a meter reading since we moved in 2014.

The meters are outside so maybe the companies are accessing themselves?

@coolhwip This sounds a bit worrying. That's very cheap for prices in winter months. Do you not have an online account where you can check whether they have been coming to read your meters or where you can submit your meter readings yourself for more accurate bills? So you've not had any contact from your supplier since 2014 and the price hasn't changed?? What do your bills day? Credit or debit? A fixed tariff is basically just them fixing the price of gas/electric by kWh, but obviously the price still depends on useage.
Claudethecat · 20/09/2021 10:20

ancientgran is right - make sure the quote you have is based on your actual usage not an estimated one. If you don't do this, then the quote for the monthly cost can be way too low and will be hiked up when your account ends up in debit.

Neveranynamesleft · 20/09/2021 10:20

Usage , meter readings and direct debits etc should be checked regularly to ensure theres no nasty suprises!

Claudethecat · 20/09/2021 10:21

Sorry, my post was to Etherel

theworldsbiggestcrocodile · 20/09/2021 10:21

I'm a bit screws I think. My fix ended yesterday and my supplier has gone bust. I can't afford another £100 a month.
This fucking government...utter joke.

Claudethecat · 20/09/2021 10:22

Neveranynamesleft I have a lovely spreadsheet to keep track! Am slightly obsessive about it.

Thelnebriati · 20/09/2021 10:23

I was going to say that you need to check your meter. Not just because estimates can be so wrong; a few years ago our meter reader was sacked because he had been guessing. He hadn't actually read our meter for 2 or 3 years. Luckily it worked in my favour as I got a rebate for overpayment, but had I owed them hundreds of pounds I would have been in financial difficulty, even if they had spread the repayments.

mum2jakie · 20/09/2021 10:27

@NotMyCat

I'm with bulb.. can't get any info today
@NotMyCat and @FreddyMercurysCat my Bulb statements are showing up online. I've just logged in and submitted new gas and electricity readings if that makes any difference? Mine tells me I am £200 odd in credit
LakieLady · 20/09/2021 10:40

@Limejuiceandrum

Do people really have heating on over night (I know I’m missing point of thread)
I do if it's very cold, @Limejuiceandrum. I have the thermostat set at around 12C or 14C.

It means the house gets up to its daytime temperature more quickly, and I don't freeze my tits off when I get up for a pee in the night.

And I really feel the cold, I have to have the thermostat set at 21 or 22 just to feel comfortable. It's saying 18.9 now, I'm wearing a thermal top under a sweatshirt and my hands are bloody cold!