Gas and electricity bills to soar

[Cosmos123]

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

[quote gibletjane]@Claudethecat british gas [/quote]
When I tried to get a quote from them today, the variable tariff was not on offer, which suggests it is cheaper than their fixed tariff now, at least in my area!

Your best bet to see whether you would be better off switching would be to use the MSE site, but make sure you use your actual consumption for the quote and compare the tariffs and standing charge with what you are paying now (you may already know this so apols if so, not everyone does and so the quotes can be misleading).

clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub

We can afford it but it’s going to be bumpy

Yeah I imagine it'll be touch and go as to whether you can keep that large hot tub running over the next few months. I'll keep you in my thoughts. Never mind the people that are worried about whether they'll be able to turn the heating on this winter

Yes we just fixed and our DD has gone up £50 pcm

Can anyone advise on how to prepare for electricity blackout please? What to have in house (including product recommendations) and what to do. I read they’re expecting 3-5 day blackouts in worst case scenario 😱. Or point me to a prepping thread.

Apologies if that’s a basic question but no one to ask and we’re a young family - never experienced a blackout x

@Lahhdjdknwbjshdhb
-> www.mumsnet.com/Talk/preppers

Did anyone watch Peston on itv news talk about this?
Am a little miffed at how he essentially blamed us customers of those firms who have gone bust for being stupid enough to go with them. Said its unfair that the rest of the country have to bail us out when we have been paying cheap.
I went with People's Energy back in May as they were the cheapest fixed rate at that time - surely this is what we have always been encouraged to do?
He makes out like we deserve this

@Lahhdjdknwbjshdhb I recommend reading some of the prepping threads on the MSE forum. There is a general prepping one and a preparing for winter one forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78619160#Comment_78619160
I really doubt there would be blackouts as long as even 3 days though, it seems more likely it would be rolling blackouts like the 70s. Get some rechargeable batteries and power banks, a windup torch or headlamp, maybe a camping stove and gas bottle, and if you happen to be buying a new fridge freezer and this really is a concern for you then look for which one will stay cold longest during a power cut.

Peston probably earns a small fortune so he probably doesn't have to worry about getting the best energy deal, it will be a different world.

@Lahhdjdknwbjshdhb

Apologies if that’s a basic question but no one to ask and we’re a young family - never experienced a blackout x

It's no big deal, get a few camping lanterns and some board games. Do not open your freezer at all. It'll be good.

Thank you @PattyPan and @SpittinKitten I would rather be prepared, with two young children it would be stressful enough. Thanks so much for the tips x

@Kara198, Peston is a bit thick so I wouldn’t worry about it.

@Lahhdjdknwbjshdhb

Yes we just fixed and our DD has gone up £50 pcm

Can anyone advise on how to prepare for electricity blackout please? What to have in house (including product recommendations) and what to do. I read they’re expecting 3-5 day blackouts in worst case scenario 😱. Or point me to a prepping thread.

Where I live we get several power cuts a year though not usually for more than a few hours. Freezers and fridges will be OK for about 12 hours if you don't open them. I keep a power cut box of wind up torches, candles and matches. Also a big camping lantern that can be charged up by mains, solar or wind up. An old style telephone that plugs into the landline (we have no mobile signal). Several of those little power banks.

What an absolute twattish thing for Peston to say @Kara198 .

Peston has obviously never had to worry about paying his gas bill. If he wants to blame someone he should blame the government/regulator for allowing it to become so easy for people to take a punt on setting up an energy company.

Also, just found out from my British Gas welcome email that my £200+ credit won't be transfered from People's Energy for '2-3 months, or maybe longer'.
I'm on the verge of tears. I've built that up over the summer to get us through the winter. Is there nothing I can do?

Weren't those companies encouraged to set up to make it more competitive

@Kara198

Also, just found out from my British Gas welcome email that my £200+ credit won't be transfered from People's Energy for '2-3 months, or maybe longer'. I'm on the verge of tears. I've built that up over the summer to get us through the winter. Is there nothing I can do?

Oh Kara that is so shit. Maybe someone here has experience of this or ask on the MSE forum, there seem to be a lot of very savvy people on there.

I can't wade through 18 pages but can someone tell me why there will be black outs!

With no electricity?

Or gas as well?

We have gas heating but lots of electric blankets!

I remember a power cut when I was little, we were snowed in and power off for a week
I was about 5 and ended up being packed off to a friends house because I was literally turning blue with cold, and the brightness and heat as I walked in. We just put up with it but that was before internet etc and quite normal
I wouldn't want to do it now, that was 32 years ago and I can still remember how cold it was

@LeafOfTruth

It just doesn’t seem expensive to what others are paying
I am sure I could get it a bit cheaper if I shopped around as I’m on a pre pay card for both .
But I forgot to add that we have a big hottub - a proper one not one of those inflatable ones from the range 😂 and they are expensive to run so overall I don’t feel that my energy bills are excessive .
I don’t think about putting the heating on using the tumble dryer or having two showers a day if I want to .

And I don’t mind paying a bit more if it means I’m in control of the bill via pre pay
Probably sounds stupid I know

@Autumngoldleaf the national grid (electricity) is at a tipping point - there is no spare capacity and there is a high risk of blackouts this winter. We’ve lost c.20% capacity due to France line having gone down.

No. 10 says no chance of power cuts. So that probably means there is a good chance of power cuts!

www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/20/no-10-dismisses-winter-of-discontent-warnings-amid-energy-crisis-talks

Oh gosh so this is slightly different to the price hikes issue?

So if we can't get energy what can we do to at least boil a kettle for hot water and water bottle's?

Yes I can envisage power rationing.

I am old enough to remember the power cuts in the 1970s. No fun having no electricity from 7am to midnight! I think we could still use the gas cooker and we had open fires so not as bad as it could have been.

Well you could use a BBQ I suppose we're all electric for cooking and of course the hearing won't work