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Original poster

Gas & electricity price shocker quiz.

58 replies

Neolara · 02/01/2022 16:04

So our energy supplier has just told us that our fixed rate of £1,800 for gas and electricity will come to an end in Feb. Any guesses for how much they are planning to charge us for the same service after Feb?

(I won't keep you in suspense for too long).

OP posts:
saleorbouy · 02/01/2022 18:50

A good reason to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances and change to LED bulbs and A rated equipment.
My Dad would dock 5p off our pocket money if we left our bedroom lights on after leaving the room. I reckon he'd have to take £4 off a time now! Grin I'm still amazed at my friends who seem to have every light on in the house even when out.

stingofthebutterfly · 02/01/2022 19:03

We could fix at £450 a month, if we wished. Currently paying £200. Bloody ridiculous. 5 bed detached, but more like a 4 bed due to small rooms.

onlychildhamster · 02/01/2022 19:07

Mine is £130 for a 2 bed flat. Would be welll over £200 if we fixed when the deal ends in March.

Pearlpink · 02/01/2022 19:12

If you go into a variable tariff after coming off a fixed rate in a few months can you resign up for a fixed tariff?

FourTeaFallOut · 02/01/2022 19:29

@Pearlpink

If you go into a variable tariff after coming off a fixed rate in a few months can you resign up for a fixed tariff?
Yes
sheroku · 02/01/2022 19:34

It's insane. I'm hoping that we'll start getting warmer weather in April when the prices go up and I'll just switch the heating off then.

Sarahplane · 02/01/2022 19:55

We're currently paying £160 on variable rate and So energy are offering us a 2 year fix at £345! More than double. The government really need to do something about the cost of energy urgently. It's completely unaffordable.

onlychildhamster · 02/01/2022 20:03

@Sarahplane what kind of house do you live in and how many bedrooms? I am currently paying £130 so quite similar to you and have not been quoted the huge amounts that some of you have been quoted. I have been quoted £215. I am in a 2 bed flat.

Asdf12345 · 02/01/2022 20:41

Our electricity is about £80 a month, we use about 2000 litres of heating oil a year currently at 45p a litre, and about half a ton of house coal.

2sleeps2go · 07/01/2022 12:33

Just hopping on...hope you don't mind. I'm currently paying £67 a month for both with British gas. I have to refix before 12th Jan to a new tariff or go on to variable. The new quote is £109 a month! Am I right in thinking as per Martin Lewis guidance that I do nothing and just go on to standard variable?

Sonex · 07/01/2022 12:37

Have you all seen this:
www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/#energy

It's a looming crisis and about to get a whole lot worse! I am hoping the government step in and do something.

Sonex · 07/01/2022 12:39

Do nothing for now is the conclusion I have come to as well regretably - I'm currently on a fix paying £160 a mnt until February - can only imagine what they are going to put it up to!

FourTeaFallOut · 07/01/2022 12:46

@2sleeps2go

Just hopping on...hope you don't mind. I'm currently paying £67 a month for both with British gas. I have to refix before 12th Jan to a new tariff or go on to variable. The new quote is £109 a month! Am I right in thinking as per Martin Lewis guidance that I do nothing and just go on to standard variable?
Yes. If you were able to fix with an increase less that 40% then it would be worth locking it in, according to Martin Lewis. But obviously your fix price is well above that so the advice is to sit tight.
lightand · 07/01/2022 12:46

@saleorbouy

A good reason to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances and change to LED bulbs and A rated equipment. My Dad would dock 5p off our pocket money if we left our bedroom lights on after leaving the room. I reckon he'd have to take £4 off a time now! Grin I'm still amazed at my friends who seem to have every light on in the house even when out.
lightbulbs are one of the smallest things. fan heaters, old freezers and other things are far bigger guzzlers of electric
lightand · 07/01/2022 12:47

we bought a gizmo that monitored all our electric consumption of each appliance. an eye opener.

lightand · 07/01/2022 12:48

@Sarahplane

We're currently paying £160 on variable rate and So energy are offering us a 2 year fix at £345! More than double. The government really need to do something about the cost of energy urgently. It's completely unaffordable.
we are decades down an expensive path nationally, and are keeping going.
Ithinkimalonenow24 · 07/01/2022 13:04

It's crazy at moment, I fixed with Sainsbury energy for 2 years, just before the prices went crazy. Was with octopus but was being moved on to variable rate and Sainsbury was offering the same for fixed rate. So think I made the correct decision.

Nov 20 bill was £60 for both and last Nov 21 bill was £100 for both and I had used the same amount off gas/electric as previous year.

I feel for people who have to choose between heating and food. I don't have much extra money after bills are paid and have been more aware off turning heating down, wearing layers. I usually switch heating off around 6pm as sitting down for the evening and use my electric throw. But it's just me to worry about.

lightand · 07/01/2022 13:06

I should have said heaters, not just fan heaters.
But I would advise people to monitor their appliances.
Lightbulbs is about the least of them all.

lightand · 07/01/2022 13:08

@Ithinkimalonenow24
how much electric does your electric blanket use?
dont want to alarm you or anyone else, but can you say for sure that that uses less money than the heating? I dont know, but you can see what I mean.

lightand · 07/01/2022 13:12

I think they are quite good.
Portable heaters on the other hand, are one of the costliest.
Computers, if left on all the time, are not as cheap as you may think either.

ProudAlly · 07/01/2022 14:25

My provider is offering "Just for you: our plan made for loyal members, with fair prices fixed for a year when you renew." at £420 a month. I currently pay £155. I just can't afford that increase so we're just going to have to use less. A LOT less.

FourTeaFallOut · 07/01/2022 14:31

Just roll on to the cap. It won't be anything like £420 per month.

ProudAlly · 07/01/2022 14:34

@FourTeaFallOut

Just roll on to the cap. It won't be anything like £420 per month.
I'm on the cap now. Back in Nov I could have got a deal at £369 a month which seemed like a lot! So went onto the variable rate. I'm very nervous about what April will bring and so far I'm using 32% less energy then last year (but spending a fortune on slipper socks and jumpers!)
FourTeaFallOut · 07/01/2022 14:52

Do you know your annual usage? That is a huge amount. I'm paying £160ish in old money (gas 16,000 kWh and elec 7,367 kWh) and can cap with my current supplier for £277.

lightand · 07/01/2022 15:11

@ProudAlly
Interested to know how you have managed to make a 32% drop in energy consumption?
I know it is doable, if turn off many things, and keep them off, but interested to know how you did it.