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.

Totally.

ML was almost in tears this morning saying he'd been accused horrifically for scaremongering these past few months.

He basically said he wished it was scaremongering but it's reality and it's going to have devastating effects on the most vulnerable.

Something I find odd.

I’m in Canada. We don’t have an energy crisis (although we’ve not been immune from inflation in other areas). Obviously the UK/European energy crisis is not front and centre in our news, but it is being reported on. For example: www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6562955

So are the Canadian media trying to ‘scaremonger’ Canadians into panicking about the cost of energy in the UK?

Or are news organizations simply reporting about events that are happening in the world (you know, the news)?

Surely it’s to be expected that this issue would get more coverage in the country(ies) being most affected by it?

Yes, it is true that some people “are struggling to absorb the staggering implications”. It is those people who are saying it is “scaremongering”. Unfortunately, they will very soon find out it is not.

@Grumpybutfunny I think you're right up to a point, but when energy producers are making over 1billion a quarter, then greed also comes into too.

for example, my energy company is not in the business of producing energy, just in procuring and selling it. They aren't making a high profit out of selling me energy, the wholesaler they but from is. It's this market that urgently needs sorting.

Can I tell you all something? Earlier this year I started looking into solar power as I had started seeing adverts about there being batteries you can get to store the electricity to use in the evening and overnight. We're in Scotland where the energy savings trust give us an interest free loan to have it installed. So we went ahead and had it installed. We are all electric in a 4 bed with 2 teens and the week before we had it installed our electricity usage was £30, last week it was £2.18! Really worth looking into if you own your own home. So some of you could reduce your bills quite a bit, we estimate we will save £200 a month at the current prices and we pay £83 a month for the interest free loan. p.s. I don't work for a solar power company!

We are in an economic war with Russia, as is much of Europe in order to support Ukraine. This isn't the only reason for high prices but it is playing a big part. War costs. Not just the upfront cost of sending weapons as we are doing but hidden costs like the fact that Russia has literally cut off the gas to Germany etc. The PM has acknowledged this by saying that we must pay in money while Ukraine pays in blood. War is expensive and war with Russia is very bloody expensive.

Nah don’t be daft, it’s obviously all a joint effort by Putin, the BBC, The Green Agenda and lobbyists, in cahoots with the World Economic Forum, to enable the Great Reset (localized to Europe).

We have given about 2 and a half billion in military aid to Ukraine which I think is more than any other country barring America. So that is an upfront cost and rising energy cost is a hidden cost. I don't think anyone really disagrees with that.
The PM himself said it was a cost worth bearing and the chancellor of the exchequer when addressing energy prices either today or yesterday reminded the country that we are at war.
The country as a whole are clearly of the same mind otherwise we would be saying it's not our war. stop paying for it. So it comes down to choices. we choose to support Ukraine and that's great but it comes with a big price tag because Russia has turned off the frigging gas!

So when people say it's not sustainable what then? What will happen next do you reckon?

Yes this, same for the fridge. It uses much less energy to cool something than just air. Pour a jug of water in your fridge and save a few pence.

There are going to be a lot of people who have this horrible moment of realisation.
🍰💐

Whether or not the UK supports Ukraine does not directly impact on gas prices as Russia does not supply us gas with much anyway.

Russia does not supply us gas with much us with much gas anyway.

Sri Lanka can't afford fuel, it is hitting globally.

No, but other nations that are more heavily reliant on Russia are now vying for the same fuel we are, demand from everywhere on a reduced supply means the price rises, it goes to the highest bidders , poorer countries are already losing out.

@Butterflyfluff I agree with you op there's no way the average bill is going to be £7000 per year that's just ridiculous. I wish they wouldn't spout this shit every day on the news. some people are extremely vulnerable and it could causes extreme anxiety maybe even suicide in some people as they'll be so worried about it. it's totally irresponsible of the media to go on about it they way they do.
No doubt prices are going to rise substantially but not to £7k ffs.
I've just had my quarterly bill for May-August 22 and I've checked back though my account and my bill is almost exactly the same as it was for the may-aug 21 quarter I'm with BG and I've not made any changes to decrease my usage.
I understand the major rises are not supposed to kick in until September though.

rise in October I meant

Yes I see this alot. There is a 'catergory' of people that are unfortunately not eligible for much if any help because they earn 'too much' for benefits bur not enough to sustain the cost of living. Horrible for them. The job centre typically ask them to take on more hours or find a better paying job.
My friend is in a similar position and the job centre flippantly asked her to find a job that pays weekly instead of the 2 jobs she has. Bloody useless and almost impossible to find. She works her arse off.
I'm lucky enough to claim a decent disability benefit but have been in her position.

Of course. I was responding to the poster that said if we choose to support Ukraine it comes with a big price tag because Russia has turned off the gas. That is incorrect because even if the UK didn't support Ukraine, we would be in the same position.

Why do you think there's no way it can go to that price? It’s already gone up to £3,500 on average for people on variable tariffs. The fact that people can't pay it in the UK isn't going to interest the fuel extractor companies. If your bill hasn't increased since last year it is because you are on a fixed rate and not affected by the price cap rise. Most people aren't now. My bill has more than doubled already and it will increase by a further 80%.

I agree that the media are being very heavy handed with their coverage. But sadly there are no easy answers to this dilemma.

Equally, it’s apparent that many people don’t understand what the price cap means or why the situation has arisen.

Just like other European countries, albeit with different energy circumstances, our Government will end up having to give some form of support. All of which will add to our national debt, just as Covid massively ramped up the bill that will have to be paid back through future taxes etc.

However, whatever support is given it’s clear that every household is going to have to make energy savings. Only time will tell whether some of the savings will actually be imposed on us via timed blackouts due to shortages.

What do you mean am I not concerned about now?

I was answering the OPs question which was about whether people are scaremondering.

I am concerned about what prices will do, but there isn't much I can do about it, and I don't think freaking out will help. I think what the state can do is also fairly limited.

In my experience, people do get carried away speculating about doomsday scenarios, and often they do not play out as badly as that, so that certainly affects my perspective.

I also think there has long been a reckoning coming about the kind of consumerism and debt based lives most of us lead. Is this part of it? Maybe. We are still an incredibly wealthy society compared to historical norms. We don't actually need many of the goods and services we have become used to.

I think it's more about the emotional content.

Look at all the people talking about ML being in tears, or "screaming".

That's not about telling people things, it's something else entirely. It's the same if you look at the way many headlines are being written.

It really is similar to the way things developed with covid reporting, all kinds of decontextualized scary numbers.

You do understand that:
Gas in January 22 cost 4p per KWH and in Dec 22, it will cost 15p per KWH?
So you can see that when people turn their gas central heating on, it will cost 3 - 4 times more?
And that is without the price cap announcement for Jan 23 prices which are predicted to be higher than Dec 22
I can see Martin Lewis' frustration.
In Q1 21, people paid 19p per KWH for electricity and 3 p per KWH for gas
In Q1 22, people paid 27 per KWH for electricity and 7p per KWH for gas
In Q3 22, it's 52p per KWH for electricity and 15 per KWH for gas
In Q4 22, it's predicted to be higher
*Financial quarters
These are not opinions or predictions. These are FACTS

It really is similar to the way things developed with covid reporting, all kinds of decontextualized scary numbers

Context:

Gas was 4 per KWH
Now 15p per KWH

My bill last January - £109
Predicted this January - £330

Because gas has gone up 3 - 4 fold and people use more gas in the winter months.