What are people doing if they cannot afford energy increases?

[Needanewadventure2021]

I am one of those who will find it impossible to pay when I am out my fixed. My estimated increase as of now it's already more than I spend on food a month. So basically it's our food money gone. £89 going to £216 currently. Thank god I'm protected until may/June time.

I've cut everything I can. I'm a lone parent, low income household working full time.

I feel a failure.

I was thinking should I cancel my DD when my fixed ends but I've been told that will inflate prices higher? I will pay my bills. But I cant have the money taken.

What are people meant to do though if there money just isn't there to take? I've lived below the 'breadline' for years. It sucks but that's the way it has been. How the hell am I meant to absorb these costs when the money simply isn't there? Does this mean my credit will he thrashed? Its currently excellent and it worked endlessly to keep it that way despite my financial circumstances.

I have no life no luxuries. Its making me really really sad.

What do others plan on doing?

I refused to allow them to put my bill up - my direct debit is £130, they wanted to put it up to £380

I said no and that I lived in a 2 bed flat and it couldn't possibly be that much - I told them I'd wait to see if it evened out over the summer

They agreed

Thanks for this advice.

I've always paid based on actual consumption and sent in meter readings every month. It's still going up of course but at least they won't take extra. I've just really cut down on what I use. Not turning the heating on much at all, and fortunately it's soon spring and it can go off completely. I also realised the oven uses a lot so I only cook in the oven as a rare treat now...

In general though I don't know what's going to happen if everyone's bills just keep going up and up, lots will be unable to pay.

Speak to them.
Make sure they know and record that you have a child(ren) in the home & if anyone in the home has a medical condition which could make them more vulnerable to cold (asthma, for example).
Do you receive any benefits? If so let them know - sometimes there are grants or funds which can help (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/).

I understand that council tax is a priority bill to pay but if large amounts of people can't pay, then I doubt they will have the resources to take thousands to court. They will have to come up with some way to allow people to spread the cost.

@Babyroobs

I understand that council tax is a priority bill to pay but if large amounts of people can't pay, then I doubt they will have the resources to take thousands to court. They will have to come up with some way to allow people to spread the cost.

Not paying ct will lead to a bad credit record.

Am I right in thinking that if you don't meet any of your financial commitments you are at risk of damaging your credit record, or is it only certain ones?
Obviously I have always has every intention of paying my bills. I've never not paid. But these increases will be impossible to meet. By no means am I saying I intend to stop paying everything. I Will continue to make payments as best I can but I know for sure its soon going to be impossible. I'm threating now about fuel for the car. I cant drop the car as it's necessary. Public transport passes would work out more than fueling the car. Even 2nd hand car prices are through the roof. What the hell is going on. Everything is expensive

I think that re nationalisation is the only option long term if we are going to stay green which comes at additional cost ( like many eco ideals do). In the meantime, we have a bumpy ride ahead until they muddle their way towards it.

You don’t get a bed credit from not paying council tax,you get bad credit for not paying your utilities.

Council tax has more powers with non payment though, which can include imprisonment for non payment or a charge being put on your property if you own.

@Soffit

I think that re nationalisation is the only option long term if we are going to stay green which comes at additional cost ( like many eco ideals do). In the meantime, we have a bumpy ride ahead until they muddle their way towards it.

Green electricity has been cheaper than gas for a while

Renewable was cheaper in 2020 worldwide

We need more of it

Ultimately, if the choice is food or utilities, many people will be contacting the utilities explaining their hardship and having their arrears managed via any supporting schemes, grants, payment plans etc

Though not much, but the £150 when it comes through I'd leave aside for if/when things get really tight.

Try not to use your oven and, when you do, fill it up with batch cooking that can be reheated in a microwave. Children don't have to have a hot meal - a well-balanced picnic on a tray is my grandson's favourite. Anything that gives out heat is bad news tbh.

Are there any ways you could make some extra cash? If you have the weekend off for example, could you offer baby sitting at your house on the weekend for example? Could you dog walk at the weekend ? Could you house or pet sit for someone on holiday ? I used to buy things from charity shops and sell them on eBay.
Just a few ideas, I know it's really tough when money is that right

When my £150 council tax rebate comes in April, I'm going to use the full amount to make an overpayment on my electricity. Hopefully it will help stop my electricity dd going up too high

Send monthly meter readings and only pay for what you use.

There’s lots you can do to get your usage down, I’ve halved mine doing simple things.There’s a group on fb called Energy bills advice and energy debts community uk that’s really helpful.

I think that some people will be able to get help from their parents or other relatives. Have you anyone to ask?

Are you able to ask CAB for a food bank referral in order to divert money from food to energy?

Will the school give your child(ren) breakfast?

You should not feel a failure. You are a lone parent and the way many people will afford this is between them.

They have been over inflating dds I think
I've seen a few people say the same
They tried to put mine up a further £30 after already doubling it a month earlier
From my calculations based of their estimates it should only have gone up £5!
I paid a lump sum to keep my dd at the current rate and they only lowered it slightly
I requested they put it back down to what it already is and they have. With a lecture about underpaying blah blah blah
I'll pay extra if I feel I need to on my terms not theirs

@LaurieFairyCake

I refused to allow them to put my bill up - my direct debit is £130, they wanted to put it up to £380

I said no and that I lived in a 2 bed flat and it couldn't possibly be that much - I told them I'd wait to see if it evened out over the summer

They agreed

This is good advice. Wait and see what actually happens.

Watching with interest.

I don’t know what we’re going to do either. We already pay £170 a month. All the advice is about cutting down / using less / spending less elsewhere etc. What if you’re already doing all those things? Replies (not just on Mumsnet but all over the media) show the complete lack of awareness and understanding many people have over those on very low incomes.

Both Ds and I are disabled. Yes we claim PIP / dla but that doesn’t go far and is eaten up by bills and living expenses. Dh works full time but in a low wage job, which is ironically quite well paid for the area we live in. We can’t just up and move for 1000s of reasons. We own our home which you’d think would be a good thing but due to years of low income things go wrong all the time and we’re just struggling to get by.

We need to use the washing machine and tumble dryer regularly due to incontinence issues and cannot dry washing inside too much due to making already difficult damp issues even worse.

We only have the heating on 1 hour a day twice a day as it is - not great when you have lupus and chronic kidney disease.

Our son aged 9 has autism and complex needs and is currently out of school due to the specialist school he was at saying they can’t meet his needs (anxiety related etc) and we are trying to get him another place elsewhere but so far 3 complex needs schools have come back and said his needs are too severe. He’s been out of school since December. Energy costs are higher because he is at home more - if I was on my own I’d literally sit in the cold and dark all day but I can’t do that with a child.

Life is already really difficult for many families like us. There is no spare money. We are already at the limit of our overdraft. We shop at Aldi. We don’t use the car except for our many medical appointments (husband walks to work thank goodness).

Sorry that’s just turned into an epic rant I just get so annoyed when on other threads you have idiots suggesting saving £50 a month We don’t even have 20p to save!

There is no way we can afford any increase in energy prices.

@Bagelsandbrie I'm really sorry to hear your situation. And I agree there is a lack of understanding for those on low incomes. Pre covid I was living to within a few pounds a month. So you can imagine what the last 2 years have been like. Money is genuinely very tight.

I appreciate everyone's advice but I am a responsible adult. Always have been. Believe me when I say I have already done everything I can to help us, apart from finding ways to earn extra money. Asking family isn't an option as they are in the same boat too. My parents are very hard working but always been in low paid jobs. I've not been raised around money so no my family can't help me now, when they need the help as much as alot of others do. I'm massively worried for my parents who both have several health conditions and sit in a cold house and their fridge is empty.

I dont have any social life, I don't buy myself or my child anything. I buy no luxuries at home. We dont go out. My DS has additional needs too though his are undiagnosed right now and it's a battle to get him support.

I am mortgaged. Luckily I'm fixed into a 5 year deal and my mortgage is 50% less that what I'd be paying in rent. However you're right. There is so much wrong around the home that I cant afford to fix and its causing me real anxiety. I havent been able to afford to replace the fence since November!

We need to rant because realistically our options are limited and not immediate. If the money isn't there it simply isn't there

We received our new annual statement this week, our gas is paid monthly and we get into credit over the summer months. We are currently in credit (as we always are at this stage) and our payments have gone from £52 to £83. This is a big increase but manageable thankfully. We have a small 2 bed that is well insulated and we don’t often have the heating on as it is a warm house. It’s one time I am thankful for having a tiny house.

We have just had confirmation from British Gas that our bill will shortly double. It is very scary and what are people on low incomes supposed to do.

Try and sort a referral for a food bank, phone cab and see if any financial help is available to you on a low income. If you do start to struggle phone your supplier and they will often agree to a payment plan as a first point of call which takes into account how much you can afford etc. If it's still not manageable they can force you onto a prepayment meter, it's very unlikely they will disconnent your supply and certainly not without warning and trying the above steps first. Having a mortgage is sadly worse in situations like this as if you are entitled to any help it's not for x months and is on a loan basis.

I had this problem. I went to prepayment meters. I don't regret it.
I just pay for what I use, if I'm low and struggling to afford to top up I cut down on usage till I can again I.e use the slow cooker for 4 pence a hour instead of the oven at 35 pence a hour, don't use tumble dryer etc.
I'm disabled too and it's a fuckery but I've found not using my tumble dryer and drying outside has actually helped with the damp issues!
My bills will only increase by £40 a month from April.