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Best electric and or gas tariff for pensioners?
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The EWD is the comparison between Dec to Mar and the April to Nov figures. Last year 31,000 people became a statistic when they died because of the freezing weather last winter. That's a 29% jump from the 2012-2013 figure and the highest level for four years. I can find no evidence that the 'enslaved young' have died as a direct result of the cold weather. As a nation we have the leakiest houses in Europe and as a % of the population the elderly I'm sure will have the worst insulation and leakiest dwellings of all, that's why they die. Germany managed a quarter million 'retro fits', here the Green Steal and the ECO funding is doing little to nothing for the nation, only the well heeled can find the extra contributive money needed to participate. We can spend £50 bi££ion on the rip-off London centric Boris's bedroom line but will do nothing to stop and reverse the rise in elderly hypothermia deaths that we are currently seeing particularly after the recent round of inflation busting price hikes from the big 6.
I'll get back to this thread in March 2014 when we see how many EWD's became a statistic and how many of the 'enslaved young' did not !Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0 -
Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »The EWD is the comparison between Dec to Mar and the April to Nov figures. Last year 31,000 people became a statistic when they died because of the freezing weather last winter. That's a 29% jump from the 2012-2013 figure and the highest level for four years. I can find no evidence that the 'enslaved young' have died as a direct result of the cold weather. As a nation we have the leakiest houses in Europe and as a % of the population the elderly I'm sure will have the worst insulation and leakiest dwellings of all, that's why they die. Germany managed a quarter million 'retro fits', here the Green Steal and the ECO funding is doing little to nothing for the nation, only the well heeled can find the extra contributive money needed to participate. We can spend £50 bi££ion on the rip-off London centric Boris's bedroom line but will do nothing to stop and reverse the rise in elderly hypothermia deaths that we are currently seeing particularly after the recent round of inflation busting price hikes from the big 6.
I'll get back to this thread in March 2014 when we see how many EWD's became a statistic and how many of the 'enslaved young' did not !
The rise in deaths last year surely had something to do with the fact it was bl00dy cold. There has been a continual decline in winter mortality for the last 60 years
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_337459.pdf
I agree the youth of today are hardly 'enslaved', but the elderly are hardly the worst off in todays society.0 -
Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »The rise in deaths last year surely had something to do with the fact it was bl00dy cold. There has been a continual decline in winter mortality for the last 60 years
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_337459.pdf
I agree the youth of today are hardly 'enslaved', but the elderly are hardly the worst off in todays society.
HiYa Bluebirdman,
The rise in deaths last year was to do with the cold winter. My point was the old are cold. If they had bin liners full of dosh many still died of cold as a result of leaky insufficiently heated homes. The fact that half of all energy UK users are 'stickies' - old people on old outdated expensive tariffs through their own fault is also irrelevant. We let them die, we, last year, took away what little insulation they were able to avail themselves of. The fact that the old don't turn the heat up when needed is that for whatever reason they feel they can't afford it. Old people are confused, irrational, insecure, stubborn, arthritic, lethargic, ill and disabled, but they should not be allowed to die because of those traits or conditions.
We as a nation, and particularly in terms of political policy should be making damned sure we do something to stop them dying, instead the policy changes have taken away insulation and soon to be the fuel subsidies from this group - The whole nation should be ashamed for the way it has allowed the political class to treat our mothers and grandmothers.Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0 -
Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »HiYa Bluebirdman,
The rise in deaths last year was to do with the cold winter. My point was the old are cold. If they had bin liners full of dosh many still died of cold as a result of leaky insufficiently heated homes. The fact that half of all energy UK users are 'stickies' - old people on old outdated expensive tariffs through their own fault is also irrelevant. We let them die, we, last year, took away what little insulation they were able to avail themselves of. The fact that the old don't turn the heat up when needed is that for whatever reason they feel they can't afford it. Old people are confused, irrational, insecure, stubborn, arthritic, lethargic, ill and disabled, but they should not be allowed to die because of those traits or conditions.
We as a nation, and particularly in terms of political policy should be making damned sure we do something to stop them dying, instead the policy changes have taken away insulation and soon to be the fuel subsidies from this group - The whole nation should be ashamed for the way it has allowed the political class to treat our mothers and grandmothers.
Bit over dramatic IMO, but still some very valid points.
Quite a number of older people have some of the traits or conditions you list. Helping them keep warm for less, or no more than it costs them now, is often not too difficult for someone who understands how to look for a better deal for them.
But it is invariably the less confused, or those who have someone prepared to ask for help for them, who can benefit from a bit of advice. How you get the word out to others is more of a challenge - maybe social groups and gatherings of the kind the OP mentions can be effective.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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Under the new rules suppliers have to advise customer if they are not on the cheapest tariff from that supplier. The problem is a lot of these will be online tariffs that some older people dont want.
In terms of the price of energy, we have some of the cheapest prices in europe even with the latest increases.IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.
4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).0 -
Of course elderly are more vulnerable than young people but I think the problem is more with society. How many elderly are not checked on by family or friends?
The energy suppliers can only become aware of vulnerability when a customer contacts them. I have contacted social work before when I have been alarmed from a conversation but sometimes that same person tells social work everything is fine. Other times action is taken. Elderly can be their own worst enemy due to pride. I had a customer that from my conversation I knew she was suffering from dementia and kept in contact with her for months. She has family but said they were too busy for her to contact. Eventually she was taken into care after wandering the streets in her nightdress.
I also speak to customers that say the cold weather payment from the government goes on Christmas presents then they complain the Warm Home discount goes on electric. I advise if they put the CWP on gas it will remove the worry of heating the house but they care more about the presents. Perhaps that should be made to go on the energy account and would stop so many dying.
We can all do something this year by checking on elderly relatives or neighbours and helping the homeless if we pass them in the street. A pair of gloves or hat and scarf will do more than giving them money. It would be interesting to see how many homeless people died during the winter.Self Employed, Running my Dream Jobs0 -
Thanks again everyone, lots of valid points there. Of course I will use a couple of comparison sites but having done a test it seems that the same figures can give different results on different sites and none of them take into account the £135 extra for people on certain benefits!
I am also thinking of using this workshop to see what else we can do for the elderly, many living alone in poorly insulated houses.
All this is quite new to me but having recently retired I have to keep busy.
P.S. Just heard on the radio that this winter will be cold and long!!!!!0 -
I don't know if Eon still offer this tariff to new OAPs but my tariff is called warm assist and is cheaper than any other tariff on offer.
20.013p SC and 10.2380 per kWh for electricity and 20.013p SC and 03.1670p for gas inc VAT.
Though you have to be on some type of benefit.
I was getting pension credit, though that has stopped, too much income and savings now, I'm just waiting on Eon to transfer me to another tariff but after 2 years waiting I have given up.Getting forgetful, if you think I've asked this before I probably have. :rotfl:0 -
NowRetired wrote: »I don't know if Eon still offer this tariff to new OAPs but my tariff is called warm assist and is cheaper than any other tariff on offer.
20.013p SC and 10.2380 per kWh for electricity and 20.013p SC and 03.1670p for gas inc VAT.
Though you have to be on some type of benefit.
I was getting pension credit, though that has stopped, too much income and savings now, I'm just waiting on Eon to transfer me to another tariff but after 2 years waiting I have given up.
Different providers have a similar tariff by different names, are all as far as I'm aware cancelling it next April, certainly SP is withdrawing theirs next year.Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ0 -
I thought consumers wanted fewer tariffs? Make up your minds - consumer groups and Ofgem have campaigned to remove these tariffs for years. Now it is being implemented. Ofgem wouldn't do something against consumers' interests, would they?0
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