How the f*** are you all managing your electric bills?

[cofingalthetime]

I don't have gas...
Electric has gone up from 139 per month, to 225, and now the latest is 450...

I don't know how I'm supposed to manage.

Do you all pay by DD. I don't want a meter, I had one before, and it was a nightmare, so expensive.

If 450 goes out of my account next month I won't be able to buy food or petrol or clothes

I got the 150 from the council, and paid it immediately into my electric ,b ut that's a drop in the ocean. How are you all managing.

I'm really really scared.

The gateway for claiming SDP isn’t there any more - it doesn’t exist on UC. When you transition from income related ESA to UC, the total amount you claimed on ESA will be protected but as other elements of UC increase, the SDA element of the old ESA will decrease. Can anyone claim carers allowance for you ? You now only need to be on the standard rate care component of PIP to qualify. It’ also important to note that if you’re claiming income related ESA you should not make a claim for UC until the DWP invite you to do so, as you won’t get the transitional protection.

This is the info that comes up on the Octopus site

We’ve just had the same thing from our supplier - wanted us to reduce by about £30. I’ve doubled the DD to get used to paying more and to build up some credit before the fixed rate ends. We’re with British Gas so I’m thinking they won’t go under.

Similar one for British Gas.

Listening to Martin Lewis, your utility company cannot put your monthly payment up by that much if (a) you are in credit; or (b) are already in arrears. If they need to put it up, they can only put it up by a certain % (and I am sure someone will correct me if that is incorrect). My friend was £200 in credit and they wanted to put her Standing Order up from £80 to £210. She called them and gave them an ear full. She said she will cancel her SO (even though she knew this would cost her) and pay her bill monthly/quarterly as they were not allowed to put up her SO until (a) she had used up her credit - and that probably wouldn't happen until October as its summertime; and (b) if she fell into debt, then they would discuss. They backed down and she has kept her SO at the rate it is currently. Please do not just accept the money they are asking for - call them and tell them no. Martin Lewis said all they are doing is filling their own coffers - don't allow them to do it.

I'd be really interested if anyone has any unusual tips on how to reduce bills. The reason I say that is I was already doing all of the standard things.

Things I'm wondering about:

• Buy solar lightbulbs (there seem to be quite a lot of these about), charge them and use them in the evenings? They seem quite cheap.
• Swap tariffs or provider but tbh I've been with this one the entire time I've been here and always been happy with them and also worried it could cause some kind of issue. It also seemed the cheapest.
• Change lightbulbs but I already have LED ones where I can. Annoyingly there are two that are not because the fixture is for 'energy saving'. At some point there was legislation saying 25% of fixtures had to be energy saving. Ironically they are now the highest use ones. However getting someone in to swap them and the costs may be something I can't even recoup over 10 years so it may not be worth it?
• I cannot change any appliances as I am on a v tight budget right now.
• Any more ideas?

Get a salad recipe book like Simple Salad Cookbook, to eliminate cooking (about 50% of the recipes require no cooking - that's not the same for other salad books!).

I think that lots of working people are struggling. It is a strange world we live in where people say they are better off not working - that cannot be right. Obviously sickness or disability aside, working should pay more.

I think like many on here not using the tumble dryer drying outside, washing sheets, and other items less often, hand washing dishes, switching things off and no heating since summer. When the wet and cold winter comes it will be a huge shock with heating and general fuel costs.

I don't think the government actually know how many people are struggling to pay the vastly increased bills. Many in politics are really out of touch with reality - how could a multi millionaire or ex private school really understand..

Thing is if I change tariff today its £330, God knows come the next price hike. I'm surprised they're encouraging people to reduce DDs as that credit is money in their pocket for when our usage costs explodes.

For those interested - I posted a couple of days ago saying I was awaiting a decision for the amount we would receive from UC after switching from tax credits. I found out today that this month we will get £562. I’m presuming it will stay around this figure as our wages don’t tend to change at all. So that is a couple, both working full time, renting, with 3 children. We were getting £60 a week in child tax credits. So a massive difference.

Sorry too many “so”s there 🙈😬

I guess for people renting they can get help from UC with rent etc but if you have a mortgage then discounted in overall costs. It pays to earn less and rent. There are a group of people who work, pay a mortgage and get no/little help.

I understand that but someone asked me to come and update the situation so I have. Personally I’d rather own my own home and not need help despite working my arse off every day.

I wouldn’t change the tariff if you’re already on a fixed rate - just overpay on your existing DD if you can afford to, until your fixed rate ends. Not sure why they’re encouraging people on existing fixed rates to decrease the payments - I suspect that it’s because if you’re in credit at the end of your fixed rate when they apply the price increase, they’re not supposed to increase your DD until you’ve used up that credit. Judging by some of the posts on this thread people are being gouged with massive hikes in their DDs and I think that’s more to do with easing the suppliers cash flow problems.

Did you read any of their other posts?
Or did you just come on to hoist up your judgy pants?!

Really?

That poster is a carer for a severely disabled family member and had to give up work.
In what way is that disgraceful?

And if it's the wonderful Tax Payers Money you're worried about, fear not. Family caring for a disabled person and getting the wonderful sum of just under seventy quid a week carer's allowance saves the country god knows how many millions every year because those people would otherwise require the state to take care of them. Do you know how much a care home costs? or 24/7 care? or nursing care? etc.

Trust me, the government is getting an absolute bargain.

@mustHaveA please accept my apologies, I commented before reading you later posts.

That's a lovely message. 💐 You are, I think, the only one who posted along those lines who had the balls and the good grace to come back.

I'm sure that poster will really appreciate it. She had some bloody awful comments.

Yeah I think when this ends we'll just hang out on the general tariff protected by the price cap, seems to be the advice unless they offer a new deal, and will def keep edging up my DD if overpayment will protect us from a forced change in payment.

@Smellycat290 Presuming this is about UW? I saw today in the D. Exp that they are offering a cheaper fixed rate. I debated about getting a quote but just wondered if it's obligatory that prospective customers take out all three other bills ie broadband, phone and home insurance with them or just one other or none?! Thanks in advance.

Those looking for someone to blame should turn their attention to Putin. This is a world wide issue entirely due to him declaring war on Ukraine and the resulting uncertainty of supply which has driven energy prices sky high.

Ah! Thank you