To think that very few people can manage £4200 energy bills

[Butterflyfluff]

news.sky.com/story/energy-bills-forecast-to-rise-even-higher-than-previously-thought-12668906

This simply isn’t manageable for the majority of people.

Where’s this going to end?

That’s not true - standing charges have gone up but they’re still well under £1 per day.

Even at £1 each for gas and electric that would only be just over £700 a year.

It’s the units that are the problem

Tho that @Butterflyfluff will be £58 a month before any units used

Which is nowhere near £500 a month.

I'm not doubting it’s extortionate - but it is incorrect to say it’s the standing charge that is the problem, not the usage.

I'm not sure we're the priority right now. The plan to sanction Russia hasn't really worked as predicted and don't think they really had a plan B for the energy issue that was obviously going to follow. I don't honestly think they know how to deal with Russia or the energy crisis.

Playing the long game is how sanctions are likely to work, which will suit the defence industry and any MP's that have financial interests in weapons. But it won't suit us as the poor struggle.

My guess is Germany will back down and try to form a trade deal with Russia, given their reliance. I have no idea what we're going to do.

They could fund the poor as it's been quoted that it'll cost a tenth of covid.

@Butterflyfluff but that's my usage now, on a low fixed rate, £60pm (less at the minute) including standing charges. When it ends I'll be paying that before any use!
If we just paid for usage and no standing charges it would be a lot more affordable

My summer bills are less than £60 at the moment, fixed above the cap. My fix has standing charges at £15 (higher unit rates) but on the variable this would be £22, a significant portion of my bill. High standing charges are likely to affect people with low usage who can't reduce it more, I hope any increase is put into unit charges only.

Imo it is affordable but only if people cut out other stuff. Most spend that amount on their summer holiday so giving that up will pretty much cover it.

What about all those who don't? Those who take a tent to a basic campsite for a week? Or can't afford to holiday at all?

@Dadaya

Yeah right. We've never had a summer holiday for more than £4000!

If it was that simple - I guess there wouldn't be a problem.

@anotherbrewplease Us neither, can't exactly spend a quarter of my pay on a holiday!

Article about the impact of increased energy prices for a care home, a museum and a school - a depressing read which suggests to me that we’re about to head into a massive recession

www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/21/we-are-being-abandoned-when-the-energy-bill-goes-up-by-100000-a-day

Isn't current cap on charges 50p or 48p? That's where the variable should be now

Oh thats the answer then, stop spending 4k on holidays and we will all be absolutely fine. Ffs some people have no idea

People are only trying to help kitty. Have you also considered only buying a new mulberry bag twice a year rather than for every season? 🤷‍♀️

"Only just over £700", wtf, with only, who the hell can afford that? Most people and family I know wouldn't be able to.

No, gas is 27.22, electric 45.34, so 72.56p a day, or £22 a month.

Tell me how it is affordable when I am only on minimum wage? I live on my own, so no partner or extra wage coming in. At the moment my rent is around half of my take home pay. I do as much overtime as possible. There isn't enough hours in the week to do anymore.
I haven't had a holiday for 7 years. My phone costs me £6 per month sim only [ so can't cut that back any more ]. I have to use my car for work, and to visit my very elderly parents who live over a 100 miles away. I have nothing left to cut back on.

I have already decided that there is no way I can put my heating on this winter, I simply can't afford it.

I wish it were as easy to cut back by not having a holiday. You have no idea what it is like to be on the breadline.

Ah sorry! I forgot to total both😳 mormings

So my last bill on the price cap would be £24 electric, £7 gas, £22 standing charges!

"Most" people' do not spend £4k on their holiday. Some do. Most don't.

Even less spend £6k - the latest annual price prediction for April 23.

Who I feel for are single people living on their own on low incomes. They are not entitled to any extra help apart from the £400 everyone gets. The standing charge will be the same for every household too no matter how many people there is.

One of my colleagues who's on a low wage(most of us are where I work) is going to really struggle cause she's on her own. After rent and bills even now she's not left with much. If they keep going up she just isnt gojng to be able to pay them. She works full time and also does a few hours a week cleaning on top of that.

Not everyone can just give up their expensive Summer holiday, plenty of people don't have one to give up. We would be giving up a cheapish UK holiday and my kids after school activities and even then it wouldn't be enough, as they aren't expensive ones. I'd rather live on bread and jam and wear warm clothes and blankets in winter than have my kids miss out. Thankfully we will just about manage due to the extra help but something needs to be done soon, its not sustainable.

Who I feel for are single people living on their own on low incomes. They are not entitled to any extra help apart from the £400 everyone gets. The standing charge will be the same for every household too no matter how many people there is.

This describes my son's friend (they're in their 20s) and we're not even sure if he'll get the £400 or if the landlord of his houseshare will get to trouser it. He can barely pay the rent as it is from his two jobs, and that'll be going up soon to reflect 'cost of living rises'.

Kwasi Kwarteng has said again today that hey are working on a range of measures to provide more help, and it will be up to the new PM to decide which of them goes ahead.

Anyone’s guess what that means, and whether it will be across the board or closely targeted, means tested, whatever.

I wish it were as easy to cut back by not having a holiday. You have no idea what it is like to be on the breadline.

Sadly many don't have a clue what it's like and how stressful it is when you've already cut back to the bone on everything.

Years ago I'd have a spreadsheet and literally cry at the futility of trying to shave off money or ditching any unnecessary direct debits. The increase in energy is a complete nightmare and the government must act before we're all screwed.

Spot the Liz Truss SpAd

You keep eating your brioche mate and leave the thinking to us