David Cameron writes for MSE on his plans to help on energy bills

alexlyne

The best thing I heard was reports that BG (and others?) promising that they would not be putting up prices before christmas - what a total pile of smelly brown stuff. Anyone can put their prices up by a huge amount, and then promise the next day that they won't go up for another 2 months!! It's such a hollow non-promise (which sounds like something a politician would say) that it just makes me want to slap whoever came up with it!

I'm sure the condems will have as much success with the utilities as they did with the bankers' bonuses.
DavCam: We want you to give the population a fair deal on their power.
BritGas: No.
DC: OK. Bye.
BG: Oh, before you go, bend over.
DC: Sure, how far?

lynzpower

It makes no sense to me:

We have been on the lowest of electricity providers: and we get a letter saying: we are still the cheapest and we are putting your price up.

We have no choice but to put up with it and hope someone else reduces thier tariff massively then we can switch.

So Mr cameron, what do we do exactly?

malcolmffc

Very disappointing news. The current market works well by rewarding those who can be bothered to shop around, and penalising the lazy and those with irrational fears of direct debits. The energy companies will just raise prices across the board to pay for these "consumer friendly" policies and we will all end up paying more.

soothyerboots

dori2o wrote: »

Not one of those measures included reducing current rates which are grossly unfair when compared to wholesale prices.

Abolishing the obvious cartel that is currently in place SHOULD be the starting point.

You DO realise pricing isn't JUST based on wholesale prices, don't you?

Instead of being one of the ignorant majority, I suggest you do some research first.

Beach-bum

Hi Martin,

Could you please ask the energy companies to explain how we have had a decade of "insulation grants" with millions of homes insulated, yet the energy companies are making more money than ever.

Each home insulated and energy saving bulb installed should mean a reduction in profits for the energy companies, but the opposite appears to be the case.

The energy companies need profit and dividend caps, at the moment it's a licence to print money.

MSE_Martin

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: a 'right to reply' for the other political parties?

Canucklehead

Actually we invited Ed Milliband to write on energy two months ago, he agreed to but nothing ever came through.

malcolmffc

Also, why is everyone up in arms over energy companies making profits of £125 per customer? On a typical bill of £1200 that's barely a 10% gross margin. There are plenty of industries where the margins are far higher and no one complains about them.

backfoot

soothyerboots wrote: »

You DO realise pricing isn't JUST based on wholesale prices, don't you?

Instead of being one of the ignorant majority, I suggest you do some research first.

No doubt you will also educate us then on what elements influence it. To help please make a distinction between fixed/relatively fixed costs and variable costs.

Yes, I am aware they claim they have bought forward when prices suddenly drop, but it doesn't appear relevant when prices rise.

At the moment, I am one of the ignorant majority.;)

willow_loulou

Id like to know why as I pre pay on a key meter, there for my payment is secured and no bill run up - I pay more per unit than others. Id like that addressed as most people like me on the meters do so because we have limited income and so are penalised for being poor




EDIT: Im not asking for cheaper than anyone else because I am poorer, just the right to the same rates

alexlyne

willow_loulou wrote: »

penalised for being poor

And it doesn't matter how much money the govenment make available for ways to make your home more energy efficient, you will still pay more for your power than someone who lives in an identical house but with a better income.