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?

I think because it’s not fully hit yet. Once the winter sets in I think it will be a different story

"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."

I really don't think the pound or two that you might earn in interest (if you kept it all in a savings account and didn't touch it at all) will make any difference in the grand scheme of things. The vast majority would dip into it as well with the price of everything going up and then totally screwed when they have to pay for actual usage in 6 months time.

Because they don’t achieve anything, and are usually hijacked by other ‘protesters’ with their own agendas and turn into riots.

In France the government froze gas prices at October 2021 prices and has put a 4% cap on electricity price rises, I don't know why our government doesn't do the same for us.

This is Britain, we don't do much protests, lots of moaning and tutting instead. In any case, knowing the limitations and costs of transport, getting to a protest may be a barrier in itself.

Because some of us understand that energy is a globally connected market, we can't magic money to subsidise it either. The people with the huge bills are not being careful - my predicted bill averaged for the year is £151 a month for 4 adults, we have 4 bedrooms not a small house. Our house is insulated admittedly

I do think some just don't understand fully how the market works.
On a side note, The French government is now being sued by EDF for the £7bn loss they have made.

Because France gets most of its electricity from nuclear power. We burn gas for quite a lot of ours.

It's too hot. Once the bills start coming in for winter there will be.

I agree with you there’s a lot of bad advice flying around as above and anyone encouraging people not to pay is helping them to make it worse

No one wants to protest when you can be at the beach in this glorious weather!!

That's something to dwell on when it's really cold in a few months....

This is what I think.
Also depends whether the government chooses to take any action before the new price cap is announced on August 26th.

Gordon Brown has some very sensible things to say about it.

But you are giving them money which they earn off of. The interest that is generated from these companies sitting with large balances is definitely in their favour.

I am in credit, yet have had my dd raised twice in the last 10 days. It's just not affordable anymore. We have a smart meter so our readings are completely up to date and our dd is in excess of our usage, yet still 2 increases in 10 days.

I called the provider who has suggested a variable dd. Still get the discount by paying by dd. Not getting in debt on the account as paying for actual usage. And can put the difference into a separate account for when the bills increase.

Gordon Brown can get to Fife🙄 he has nothing useful to do/say (but rob people of their pensions).

But...you also can't think that it's acceptable that millions of people won't be able to afford to have the heating on this winter do you?

Not without at least trying some alternative plans?

I'm currently overpaying on my direct debit but I'm ok with that as effectively it's like saving for the winter. I know I could reduce the dd and put the money in my savings account but interest rates are low.

People aren't feeling it yet as the weather is so warm. But equally I think many people aren't planning ahead judging by the packed restaurants, shops etc where I live. Deliveroo bikes everywhere and queues of delivery drivers at takeaways, especially McDonalds. I don't see many signs of economic hardship at the moment and I think many people just aren't listening.

I would just like it to be mandatory for monthly or weekly bills. I have a smart meter for electric, but wasn't able to have one fitted for the gas (although they still keep nagging me - tempted to let them keep visiting for them to repeatedly say they can't do it).

British Gas only generate a bill every quarter no matter how often I read the meter, it would make budgeting much easier if I could do a reading every couple of weeks and they generate a bill so I can see how I'm doing.

Yes, quite.

If pensioners freeze this winter from inability to pay their bills, Gordon Brown need only look in the mirror to find who is to blame.

If you message British Gas (I have found they respond to Facebook message quite quickly) they can generate a bill from your smart meter. I do this all the time to keep track of our usage.

This is probably it.

Only a few months till it starts to get colder.

Also if you have the App you can set a monthly budget and it tracks how much you have used /spent so far.

Shell let me pay my bill monthly via flexible DD - so it just varies with each month,

I really do think that a lot of people who pay quarterly and who don't pay via DD but just pay the entire bill in 1 go are going to be in for a massive shock when they receive their quarterly bill for Winter. They will be using MUCH more heating than compared to Summer and maybe Autumn, and the cost of gas and electricity for heating will be 3 x what it was the year before.

You know the UK has had way higher price rises than many other European countries?

I saw a news article comparing prices recently, most countries (other than France) were similar. I recall that Italy and Germany were getting higher bills than the UK.

Most countries were similar to the UK, I meant.

Have you any data to back that claim up?