Gas prices

[LittleDorrit]

Did anyone see that BG has just announced a 35% increase in gas? I am just wondering what this will mean for the future. It is unlikely that gas prices will go down (there will be less and less oil and gas) so it will just keep going up. I live in a 2 bedroom flat, and in winter I already pay about £80 per month for gas in winter. I turn the heating down, but can't not have it on at all, as there is bad insulation and it gets quite cold. Because it's a flat, I can't do anything to improve insulation. For electricity I pay about £40 per month - I have no idea why, because I don't use many appliances (no dryer, etc).

oh, the DDs have those!

my mother buys them for them every year from LLBean.

she even got one for DS, who is due in October.

this year, she bought the girls 2 sets of flannel sheets each in their online July sale.

hurray! we already have a couple of the flannel sheets ourselves and they're invaluable.

as well as the Fruit of the Loom sweatsuits for PJs.

right, form an orderly queue. I'm going into business making them - kind of teletubbie outfits without the screen on the tum and the weird head thingy!!! I thought hood? For the complete all in one warmth with no draughts.. what do you think?

colorado - brrrrrrrrrrr!

They do them in primark for about £3 for little ones and toddlers.

Don't forget the buttoned bottom flap!

oh god yes, an design essential or you'll freeze to death when nature calls!!

My nan's bathroom used to be so cold in winter you would argue with yourself for an hour deciding whether in fact you did need a wee or not. The toilet seat was glacial.

Okay, am looking to switch to a capped rate, current plan says we pay:
Normal units
11.823 pence per kWh
Standing Charge
21.105 pence per Day

but on capped will be paying:
Normal units up to 900 kWhs
22.5225 pence
Normal units
13.062 pence per kWh

What's confusing me is, the capped makes no mention of standing charge and instead talks of "normal units up to 900kwh"
(this is for elecricity btw)

What does it all mean???? HELP!

BUMP?

BibiThree I think it kind of suits the utility companies to make it all a bit confusing...you kind of think "uh oh, don't understand all that" and it dissuades you from switching.. That's how it is with me anyway. E-mail them if you need further explanations, that worked for us.

I have just found out that although I swapped to a much lower British Gas tariff last year (Click Energy 2 which is now Click Energy 5) and they sent me an e-mail to confirm this, they never bothered to reduce our rates! (thieves)

I only found out by chance while looking at the rates I should have been paying and then checking against my bill. They offered to backdate it thankfully, but I am so glad I checked.

Bibi I think how they will work out your bill if you take the other rate is divide the 900 kWh by a quarter, them charge you the higher rate on the first 225 kWh and the second rate for the remaining ones, no standing charge .

Generally the price quoted for comparison includes 5% VAT (think that is the vat for energy bills) but you need to check. If you have your old bills and can work out how many kWh you use a year or quarter you will be able to work out your annual bills for both your current tariff and the new one so you can compare.

If you are changing to a comletely new company check to see if they offer cashback via quidco or go through one of the comparison sites (check moneysavingexpert.com).

Eg. If you use 1000 kWh in a quarter and you call a quarter 92 days.

Your existing tariff - £19.42 standing charge, £118.23 for electricity, total £137.65

New tariff - first 225 kwh £50.68, remaining ones £101.23 total £151.91

I haven't had a cup of tea yet so might have done that wrong but I think it is sort of right !

We switched to a capped rate on Saturday, following Martin Lewis' email. We were limited because we don't have gas, but our capped rate (with BG) is now the same as what BG has put it up to, and we're capped till Dec next year.

CAP CAP CAP!!!! Do it NOW!!!!