Gas and electric has more than doubled!

[RainbowBriteUk]

What used to cost me around £1.90 a day in dual fuel has gone up to around £3 - £4 a day. Is this happening with anyone else? All I'm doing is having a bath, doing a load of washing and having the heating on for 30 mins a day. It's insane!

We are PAYG always been pretty happy with what we put on usually £40 gas £60 electric a month I’m home all day every day but only have heating on in the evenings for the last few weeks
Have noticed our daily usage on smart meter is a lot more than usual will monitor this month see what we put on it’s scary

It’s ridiculous that the government haven’t been warning people just how scary the situation is right now in terms of energy supply.

What do you expect with Boris more interested in flying a private jet for his lads dinner party.

You get what you vote for.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/03/johnson-takes-private-jet-from-cop26-to-london-to-attend-dinner

Our daily rates have gone up 60% and night rates 50% with Octopus. Unfortunately I switched tariff before the advice was not to do that, although this was still the cheapest available. We also do one load of washing per day and wfh. We are electric and oil as they don't have gas around here so I'm desperately conserving oil because the price of that has massively increased, too. It's a stress I could really do without.

The price cap is going up again next spring so things are set to get even worse. I’m thinking that the energy industry is going to have to be renationalised they way things are going. Either that or it will have to be heavily subsidised for it to remain viable.

From what I hear, the price cap doesn’t not apply to industry which is really worrying because if true it could force many companies out of business and lead to supply issues and even higher price increases. At the rate things are going we will be heading back to the dark ages.

The warning signs must have been there for some time and yet governments world wide have failed to prepare for this.

@LittleDandelionClock ours was £85 a month. Dual fuel, tiny house.

The cheapest we could find when it went up was 130....

This will just keep going too as people think tbey are okaybut then reach the end of their "deal" and have to go onto new rates. So over the next year?

Our current deal which ends this month is £110. The best new one we can find is £190.

One fire is not going to have an impact.

I don't begrudge anyone who cannot afford to keep warm without a fire but the impact in and around your home in terms of air pollution and the quantity of particulate matter in particular is absolutely significant alongside all the cascade of short and long term health consequences that can follow.

I'm not trying to niggle you on the matter but just pointing out that it's not just about the environment on a grand scale and big polluters when it comes to the detrimental effects of burning wood and coal to stay warm.

Most of the homes in our street (and probably the whole village) have fires and use them throughout winter. Without gas, and given oil and electricity prices, I'm predicting even more use than usual this year.

We've installed a burner which meets the new regulations for burning, use wood we've grown and seasoned and have a backup of coffee logs and so-called smokeless coal which claims to be environmentally friendly.

We're doing our best but, like our neighbours, we need to use this option. Power cuts are also fairly frequent during the winter months so the fire could double for light some evenings.

I wish we could afford the kit to generate our own power so we aren't reliant on oil, wood and, yes, mains electricity, but right now that's beyond our means and the time it's taking to save up is increasing thanks to all the other price rises.

"We use wood we've grown"

That's hardly a realistic option for most families. Even if the op plants herself a forest today, it will take a while to get established.

Sadly, there's a hell of a lot of people struggling, fuel poverty is very real. I would suggest checking out every scheme available to install eco boilers and insulation, wear layers, fit eco light bulbs (if you can afford them), 3 minute showers.
We also bought a steamer so we only use one gas ring for several veg instead of lots of pans (also cuts down washing up). We boil the kettle in the morning and fill a vacuum flask to keep it hot, instead of repeatedly switching the kettle on again through the day.
Switch all devices off when not in use.

Well, I was more than puzzled about the new deals that my provider was offering, because I was on track with my account, and now they want double the direct debit, which I could not understand. Just finished the contract in November 1st.
I see I am not the only one then.
I have to call them to try and gather the pieces, but it sounds like it has gone up indeed! I am not sure I should sign a contract with double the rate for 2 years, or keep it as it is now....

I think the advice is to stay put because anywhere you move to will be running at the cap level now and then wait and see what happens next, at least that was the advice a few weeks ago.

Martin Lewis - money saving expert guy- is worth checking out before you jump ship MushMonster.

@RAFHercules no it isn't a good option for most people and in about 3 winters that will be it for us, too. I think my point was more that we don't all have the same options and even within the fire option there are steps you can take to try and mitigate some of the problem.

As for the other tips, thank you - we've sorted out the lighting since moving in, wear layers and cook veg on one hob ring. The boiler needs replacing - originally planned to replace it within some larger works which would include better roofing and insulation, so hopefully when that eventually happens it'll deal with a few issues.

I haven't heard the flask idea so will try that

Unfortunately I think that a lot of people are going to be shocked come next spring when the prices go up, due to the cost of gas has gone up by 250% / 300%.

Ours hit £5.60 yesterday, 3 bed heating on for two hours in total, one load of washing, we're with octopus on fixed tariff so should be one of the cheaper ones

I am not leaving my provider, but I have to decide to stay on the variable tariff or get a new 2 years contract.
Now, my variable has gone a bit up in gas, noticeable, but so far electric is the same as it was with my previous tariff.
So, if I get a new tariff for 2 years I will spend more than £500 more than if I stay with the variable, for the same usage! It makes zero sense

But I do not know what to do. Will the prices go so high that getting a fix quote is the right thing to do? Or will they stay around the current rate? Which will mean no signing quote is the right thing to do!

I'm with Bulb, I've been monitoring my energy for a few months (no smart meter)
Last month was £108 combined.
Previous month £80.
I also burn smokeless coal and the prices just went up 25% Thankfully I have had my annual supply since August. It may not be environmentally friendly but I can have one toasty warm room. (Plus every other aspect of my life is very much driven by being environmentally conscious)

I feel the washing and heating on MN is like the fabled chicken. I do a load a day, have the heating on for 3 hours at least - just like everyone else I know. Only on MN are being only doing a small load once a week and not putting the heating on until Christmas Day.

Ours hasn't changed yet because of fixed tariff. But it will, and we're looking at ways to cut down.
My father was a big believer on keeping the heating thermostat on all day, but low, so the fabric of the house stays relatively warm, rather than whacking it on a couple of times a day and it needing to work hard to heat a very cold place up.
We're in the south east and haven't really needed it on at all yet, though it's fired itself up on the couple of frosty mornings we have.
Thankful to have a thick duvet and several thick jumpers, plus dog and cat to help warm us up!
I've actually increased my work hours to compensate for increases in living costs and feel fortunate and grateful that this is something that is possible.

@Wannakisstheteacher that was a ridiculous comment further upthread about the shock of using a washing machine once a day, wasn't it?! Only 2 of us at home now but with children once a day is very reasonable.
I agree with you about only on MN 😂

I’m trying not to put my heating on, I haven’t used it yet this autumn/winter but then I also like to have a window a crack open in the bedroom for fresh air. It’s pretty cold but I’m looking to get some doors fitted as at the moment I only have 2 and it’s definitely more draughty than it needs to be!

It’s a worry, I don’t know how people are going to pay all these bills. I have a decent salary and since buying (rather than renting) I have much more spare ££ but I’m luckier than many.

[quote CatWarbler]@Wannakisstheteacher that was a ridiculous comment further upthread about the shock of using a washing machine once a day, wasn't it?! Only 2 of us at home now but with children once a day is very reasonable.
I agree with you about only on MN 😂[/quote]
A load of washing every day is a lot and should prompt you to see if you really need to produce so much washing.

Remember that reducing the amount of energy you use also reduces the cost and it's not just about buying more energy efficient appliances and continuing to use them excessively but also thinking about whether you could use less.

Make sure the machine is full and you use an energy efficient cycle even if it takes longer. Also don't wash clothes after one wear as, apart from underwear, they don't usually need it.

Thank you for your advice @BarbaraofSeville.
Is that particularly aimed at me, or just in general for this thread?

How many people live in your home BarbaraofSeville and do any of them do sports or have a manual job?