To think these energy price predictions are just scaremongering now

[Butterflyfluff]

The annual energy price predictions are literally going up by about £500 a day.

There’s absolutely no way most people can sustain £4/5/600 per month energy bills for any length of time.

I'm starting to think it’s all a ploy to just get people to reduce consumption - scare the shit out of people so they use less.

I think this is probably quite a good attempt at explaining it…

www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-why-are-energy-bills-going-up

This is worth reading too:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/about-us1/media/press-releases/catalogue-of-errors-at-ofgem-leaves-consumers-with-multi-billion-pound-bill/

I think like op that the government are hoping we will treat whatever crumbs they choose to throw at us as assurances we will vote for them in the next election. I think they are in for a big shock.

I don't claim knowledge of energy markets

but the kimono clad fox killer has got his organisation on the case

twitter.com/GoodLawProject/status/1563146547834957824

Who is this, I’m not familiar with him at all? This excites me! Am going to keep an eye on developments there, thanks for sharing.

(I have a friend called Emma H who I know uses mumsnet so I’m doing a friendly wave at you…. You never know!!)

Reese you can find more info here

goodlawproject.org

they were founded by Jolyon Maugham QC, who has an...interesting...reputation, which you will see if you google, but on the face of it, this looks like another well intentioned campaign by them.

I definitely think that there are people who are scaremongering. Maybe not realizing it in some cases. But there is some incentive for media sources and pundits to behave that way as more shocking pronouncements sell.

That's not to say that energy prices won't go up - and we've all known I think for years that was inevitable, anyway, at some point. That kind of cheap energy has never been a historical norm or sustainable.

But a lot of predictions made by such people are really more like guesses, more or less educated. And not all experts are actually good at what they do, either. There are also lots of unknowns, Putin could choke on a raspberry next Monday and that would change things a lot potentially. Predictions always flow from certain factual assumptions which may or may not hold up in reality.

What I would take from it is that there is a good chance of a sizable increase but I would not get too caught up in people giving specific numbers for the most part.

DH told me our energy bill is fixed until March but we clearly still have to be careful & prepare for after that time. I’m terrible for using the washing machine when there isn’t a lot in, using the tumbledryer when I could hang stuff out etc. DD13 is shocking for leaving all the lights on! Drives us mad! In the end, DH flipped a switch so that the lights upstairs won’t work! Heating wise none of us particularly feel the cold & we have hardly ever heated the bedrooms anyway. Plus we have a small house which is double glazed. Need to check loft insulation. Also I think I’m going to try more batch cooking so that there is more in the oven when it’s on. Plus sort out the freezer as it’s crammed full & I think that may cause it to use more energy?
Having said all that, it is scary. The Government need to do more to help people. I really can’t imagine how some households will manage.

Freezers use LESS energy when full. Lights cost very little to have on.

And you are not concerned about now?
And about peoples' actual bills today?

And businesses bills today?

Wakey wakey

I bet Cassandra would have been accused of scaremongering by people on MN if it had been around.
This IS coming in winter. If you are on a prepayment meter, your heating bills will be 3x - 4x more than they were last winter - gas has increased from 4p per KWH to 15p per KWH.
I know so many people with their heads in the sand over this.

The people whinging about Martin Lewis pointing out the blindingly obvious risks are starting to sound like the ones sticking their heads in the sand in Feb 2020.

This is going to be a mess, a lot of us will just about scrape through but many people will go under financially and mentally. Maybe the government will help, I don't know.

I think you can feel as you do about Martin Lewis and know the issues we are facing

I’m glad many find him good but he’s not my style - I just can’t do that kind of media anymore

I think the media and pandemic just made me switch off to emotive kind of reporting where it’s all record high, act now, deaths coming and seek out economists or anyone who can explain rather than whip up

But it’s just a personal preference and obviously others follow him, there’s no right way to get the info

I think the media and pandemic just made me switch off to emotive kind of reporting where it’s all record high, act now, deaths coming and seek out economists or anyone who can explain rather than whip up.

I completely agree @MarshaBradyo I'm so sick of all the high drama passed off as news.

Prices are rising that's obvious but I'd like to read more about why this is happening rather than repeated articles which only seem to want to encourage everyone to run around shreaking in fear.

Are you saying you have no lighting upstairs now? Lighting - assuming you're not still using the 'old fashioned' bulbs - costs a tiny amount to have on. It really worries me that so many people are saying they will do without lighting & use candles instead - the risk of fire just isn't worth it. And in your case, if all your upstairs lights are out, the risk of tripping/falling and doing yourselves an injury.

And fwiw freezers are at their most efficient almost full - just don't cram them full as that stops air circulating

Thankfully I dont.
People I know are more than aware

It's happening because there isn't going to be enough Gas to provide enough power for everyone across Europe at even close to the levels we usually use in winter. Our government are massively playing down the risk of blackouts.

Germany (and other countries) is taking a more socialist route to deal with this looming disaster, by legislating for usage reductions in the fairest least disruptive way they can think of. Our Tory goverment are taking the capitalist approach, of making it so expensive that we will regulate our own use. This policy has the "advantage" for those in power and their rich friends of meaning that they will not have to make any changes (their private pools will still be nice and warm) and some of them will also get VERY rich (richer) along the way, whilst the hit is totally absorbed by the poor and lower middle classes.

The Tories probably aren't lying when they confidently say their will be no blackouts on the grid, but this is only because there will be whole low income areas that have already switched of and disconnected of their own accord.

then read.

I have been astounded that with the internet literally at most peoples' fingertips, people do not read up more.
Instead people are now less informed than they were pre internet.

I would agree with some of that

But I would hardly be using germany as an example.

I presume you are aware that as of beginning of this month, Germany literally was paying the highest price of all 207 countires in the world.

What about big conspiracy theory?
Oh, right.🙄

In fact you quoting Germany is creepy for me. Wow.

@Cyw2018 and @lightand
I understand why this is happening thank you 😊

What I meant was that I would like to see more emphasis in the media on the why this is happening rather than just encouraging people to panic. It would be alot more useful in the long term IMO.

I can't believe in this thread that hate is directed towards Martin Lewis. WTF.

But that is because Germany is more dependent of Russia Gas than anyone, they are screwed whatever they do but they are at least attempting to spread the hardship.

We as a country should be in a much better position than Germany, but it doesn't feel like it this week unless you're in the 1%.

If you like radio Times radio is very good. I get most info from there. It’s really good at discussing rather than whipping people up

I did hear ML say that people’s mh is being impacted, which is likely true, but his style and the media also contribute to poor mh imo

People are ramped up and I do think can make bad decisions off the back of it - imo we underestimate the strong impact the media has and not everyone can deal with it well