To wonder why we haven't had protests about the energy bills rising?

[ChubbyCaterpillar]

Where's the uproar?
I can't understand how these energy companies are allowed to make the profits they do and continue to increase their costs.
Even if the government do step in it seems like they will only support people already on the breadline. Rather than put proper caps on the bills so it helps everyone.
Do you think protests will happen? Why haven't they already?

Hahaha, they're keeping you distracted with the trans debate

Ok fair enough but at what point do people stop receiving top up benefits of any kind? And what would it cost to end the tax payer subsidising people's lives because companies don't pay enough? I'd imagine it's not too much different to £15/h.

Unfortunately we're all so used to receiving money from the government that we expect to be paid pittance.

Sick of hearing about it. I support trans people being treated decently in society but it totally overshadows other important issues in this country.

Exactly this.

All? It’s a very long way from being the case that everyone gets money from the government.

because no one can afford the petrol to the train station and if you get there the trains are not running

Please post links to where he has advised this. Otherwise, you’re talking out of your backside.

All? It’s a very long way from being the case that everyone gets money from the government.

Jesus wept. Is that really all you can pick up on.

I guess it's expecting too much for a reasoned opinion but knock yourself out.

It was a part of your argument, so your argument fails if one of the points it relies on fails.

Most people do not need money from the government. Most people are not going to struggle to pay their energy bills.

Of those who are going to struggle most are intelligent enough to understand that it’s not the government setting energy prices.

Have you been out protesting? If not, why not?

That’ll be the same reason others aren’t out either.

No riots because it hasn't happened yet. People are on school holidays, the weather is good, the heating is off, they are hardly likely to take their children to demos (yea, I know, some people do).
Plus people have been promised some help, so they will wait to see how that works out. Maybe they don't believe the £4,200 number that has been bandied around this week.
The time to worry about civil unrest will be October when the price goes up, the temperature drops and more people feel the pinch.

In fairness it's a lose, lose situation. Families that are already struggling (due to petrol and general price rises) can't afford for their energy company to automatically increase their DD by hundreds of pounds per month. Sure you can decline the increase but you'll end up in debt still.

I remember when I was poor, an increase of even £100 would've been a disaster. People literally have no buffer for these increases, so isn't as simple as 'thinking that you're winning'. For many I'll be putting off their supplier so they can pay the rent/water/food/petrol etc.

By leaving your account in credit, you are missing out on the interest you should be earning if that money was in your savings account.
It is free money that the energy companies have the use of at no cost. You are effectively subsidising their businesses.

Incidentally, I've just been told to put my DD down to £106 a month from £150 by OVO.

I've managed to cut my usage so much by turning things off, only heating the water I actually use etc that their system thinks that will be enough. I don't but I'll keep a close eye on it

There is a lot people can do before refusing to pay their bills.

All people receiving benefits doughnut. The argument is fine but guess you've still not worked out what minimum wage would remove the need for taxpayer support. Or perhaps reasoned why you think wages should be so low as to require support in the first place.

Lots of people will be struggling. The estimate is that the UK public is already millions in debt and it's only summer.

You're a fool if you think most people are going to be ok. The average UK wage is peanuts compared to the cost of living rise and bills will have gone up twice before the winter is over. You sound a bit deluded TBH.

I think most people understand the supply chain issue and that it's big oil that are profiting. That's irrelevant to those who can't afford a £300/month increase.

And they certainly will not get benefits.

Yeah a whopping 1% APR, which for a not too shabby £400 credit would net me a whole £1 in interest between now and Christmas. That’ll really help towards presents under the tree.

What interest? It would be pence at most.

Who are you going to protest - Vladimir Putin? The Covid vaccine?

There is not enough supply. It’s a supply side problem. We don’t have enough energy.

Why take the piss? It is just unnecessary.

Not necessary, but pretty appropriate.

You know the UK has had way higher price rises than many other European countries?
Insulate Britain was protesting about the coming energy crisis. And the government just locked them, up.
This government just plays knee-jerk reactions,. There is zero longer-term planning. There is zero strategies.
Even now they are just saying to wait until they have a new Prime Minister. They are doing nothing.

Speaks volumes that Gordon Brown seems to be making the most effort. I have a lot of respect for him

They only get charged if the ombudsman agrees you have a valid complaint to be investigated.

It's not even just about small businesses, if you almost double minimum wage who do they think will fund it? I'm sure most supermarket employees aren't on much more than minimum wage (I certainly wasn't when I worked in one), if you double their wage bill the only way they would cope is to make things more expensive to buy. Rising wages like that just fuels inflation, things become more expensive to buy and suddenly the minimum wage needs to be £20 an hour and you're stuck in the same cycle again. People look at one aspect and think a change will solve it, they don't look at the bigger picture!

I wasn’t taking the piss - I was making a point.

It is not the UK government’s policies that have limited the available global energy supply. It is not within their control to affect global pricing.

Do you think mass protests will dissuade Putin or encourage him?