'Fuel poverty'

vyvyan_2

This probably should should be on the utitlities board but as I hang out here for much of my time here goes...

A lot is being said about 'fuel poverty' at the momement due to the rises in utility bills etc. Fuel poverty being defined as 10% of your income being spent on gas and electicity bills. I can't afford this and if needs be I will probably have a chilly winter as I can't afford to heat my home (and live withing my means). I intend on toughing it out until I've paid my debts. Luckily it's just me here, so no elderly or young people for me to be concerned about. Surely most of us on here are looking towards living within our means and will keep the thermostat way down this winter or just avoiding switching on the heating....so long as I've got internet and MSE I'll be OK.

Incidentally my council tax is 10% of my income and yes, I get discount for living alone and I don't qualify for benefits.

No mention is ever made of Council Tax Poverty in the same sense as Fuel Poverty.

Rant over.

LilacPixie

What annoys me is how much ctax varies from area to area. I am band A and £118 a month or £1183 a year. I think we have one of the higest rates in the country.

Ames

I'm dreading winter, I've got storage heating with blown air ducts and it costs a fortune. I'm also disabled and feel the cold a lot. I think I'll be back to how it was in my old place where the heating didn't work well, going to bed at 6pm and using three or four duvets. I think I'll be looking in Primark as well for some cheap thick jumpers for during the day too.

Does anyone know if halogen heaters are cheaper to run than the storage heaters? I've got one that I usually use in whatever room I'm in rather than heating the whole flat, and I just want to check that that's the best way to go?

Broken_hearted

Whats annoying is the head of one of the hugely profitable fuel companies telling us we should put on an extra jumper while they sit in luxury. We can't turn the heating down with young children and a disabled adult as they would get ill quickly. Luckily we won't hit fuel povery till next year when the winter bills hit.

RAS

Ames wrote: »

I'm dreading winter, I've got storage heating with blown air ducts and it costs a fortune. I'm also disabled and feel the cold a lot. I think I'll be back to how it was in my old place where the heating didn't work well, going to bed at 6pm and using three or four duvets. I think I'll be looking in Primark as well for some cheap thick jumpers for during the day too.

Does anyone know if halogen heaters are cheaper to run than the storage heaters? I've got one that I usually use in whatever room I'm in rather than heating the whole flat, and I just want to check that that's the best way to go?

Ames

have you checked out what is avaiable on what used to be warmfront? They will draught proof, insulate homees and replace old heating systems, free of charge to those on benefits or with disabilities. See here for details of eligibility in England http://www.warmfront.co.uk/do-i-qualify.htm

mummytofour

Layers is the ansewer, I suffer very badly from the cold and winter is hell for me. But last winter was mad a little easier by wearing tight fitting long sleeved t shirts then a normal t shirt ( i like the look) then a cardigan. This winter I am going to have to watch the bills even more as student family and little money we have no choice.

Ames

I've had a warmfront assessment. He said they were going to put the clingfilm stuff on the windows, but when the guy came to do the work he just put draught excluders on the door and put in energy saving lightbulbs. I can't get help with the heating because it's a council flat and warmfront say that the council should put in decent heating (which hopefully they will be doing in about 2012, unless the promised decency plus standard drops to plain decency).

RAS

Ames

Appalling.

Time to have a good go at your local councillor. You are supposed to be a priority tenant.

vyvyan_2

I'm sure this government imagines we all live in nice owner-occupied homes walking around in T-shirts and shorts in our homes January. Completely forgetting the many people who live in rented properties and are at the mercy of landlords or councils as to whether it is insulted/ double glazed or not. My home has 1950's insulation(!) and no double glazing but the rent is cheap for the area - If it was brought up to date I wouldn't be able to afford it's potential market value.

vyvyan_2

RAS wrote: »

Ames

Appalling.

Time to have a good go at your local councillor. You are supposed to be a priority tenant.

Seconded - CAB or shelter may have some advice too

turningitaround

I am worried too Vyvyan. I remember when I was young scratching patterns into the frost on the inside of the windows (the days before central heating and double glazing, for us at least) . I would wait until I was really desperate for a wee as it was so cold up in the bathroom. Hopefully it won't be quite as bad as that but I have to be prepared I guess as not getting into more debt has to be my priority.