Just had an offer from Octopus

[quicklybeendrivenmad]

Octopus energy
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Your current tariff
Flexible Octopus
Unit rates
Electricity: 27.35p per kWh
Gas: 7.28p per kWh
Standing charges
Electricity: 48.26p per day
Gas: 27.22p per day
Your new tariff options
Octopus 12M Fixed
£989.12
monthly estimate
Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed
Most popular
£945.53
monthly estimate
This tariff features 100% renewable electricity and fixes your unit rates and standing charge for 12 months. There are no exit fees, so if you change your mind, you're in control.
Your new quote
£11,869.50

God knows where these figures have come from, last months gas was £19 and Electric £180!! Who the hell would sign up to £989 per month at nearly £12k a year. Love how they say Loyal Octopus "Most popular" popular to who? Think they mean them.

There is no exit fee so I can leave when I want to.

Yes, but if things change - for example if the January rise isn’t that bad or the government step in - you’ll have hugely overpaid for several months, nicely lining their pockets.

Serious question, I'm with bulb. They went bust and then kept going but we've not been offered a fix and when I try to switch on Monday supermarket or go compare etc it says we can't switch you because energy companies have taken them off the open market.

Are we stuck on variable?

Slashing our energy use for now is the only option, everyone needs to have a plan to prepare for winter.It sounds like there will be some more help from central government soon, but until then please start thinking what you can do.

A few things we can all do that cost little or nothing:

• Get all your washing up to date and batch cook before 1st October
• Don't just use the oven for one thing, cook several things at the same time
• Turn the oven off a few minutes before the food is ready and leave the door closed, it will finish cooking in the residual heat
• Always use a saucepan lid to stop heat escaping
• Make sure you use an appropriate hob size, your pan should always completely cover the ring.
• If you cook on an electric hob, turn it off before the food is cooked and leave the lid on. I put my oven gloves or a folded tea towel on top to help insulate it ( Obviously make sure it cannot touch the hot ring!)
• If you're using a slow cooker, which is very economical, plug it in in a safe place away from kids and animals in the room you are using to help warm the room.
• Important - the minute it gets dark, go round and shut all the curtains and blinds. Those dark windows may as well be giant cold radiators, they will steal your heat!
• Swap lightbulbs for LED, starting with the ones used for longest in the day first.

I recommend sitting down with the family and making a plan, everyone needs to be on board.

I had the same offer. Currently pay £440 per month but have £1200 credit which I’m hoping will help a bit when prices rise.

This is all great advice.

But these are things we should all be doing anyway. There’s so much hypocrisy about climate change - people love to talk about it but don’t do a damned thing about it.

The silver lining (!) in this is that hopefully people will stop wasting energy.

Do you know how much you actually used on average each month last winter?

If you do then you should be able to work out the total cost across the winter including govt help and your credit. That’s a huge amount!

Yes, but this might not be a bad thing! Just sit tight.