MSE News: Consumer groups urge action on energy prices at summit

magyar

adwat wrote: »

I would rather be paying much much less for my energy thank you very much.

As would I. I'd also like to pay less for petrol, food and water bills.

My point is that everyone keeps bleating on about "oh, the utilities are ripping us off", "oh, they're all just one big cartel", "oh, when's this idiotic government going to solve the problem".

Reality: energy has got more expensive over the last few years and is going to continue to get more expensive.

If you want to do something about it, use less.

magyar

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Note also that Copenhagen is shown in the top two of the costs/kWh lists for both gas and electricity but that 60% of Danish homes are heated by district heating which I suspect probably does not show up in either graph?

Good point, not sure. However I don't see why it would affect the price that you pay for the rest of your power.

2sides2everystory

There is however an amazing number in that Wiki article I linked to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_heating wrote:

In central Copenhagen, the CTR network serves 275,000 households (90-95% of the area's population) through one network of 54-kilometer double district heating distribution pipes providing a peak capacity of 663 MW.[12] The consumer price of heat from CTR is approximately €49 per MWh plus taxes (2009).

adwat

Fact : Electricity in the UK costs nearly 30% more than in France.

Source - International Energy Agency - https://www.iea.org/publications/free_new_Desc.asp?PUBS_ID=1199 - Publication Date October 2011

magyar

2sides2everystory wrote: »

There is however an amazing number in that Wiki article I linked to:

I didn't realise that's how district heating worked. That £49/MWh (or ¢4.9/kWh) is very reasonable if you compare it to our gas price.

magyar

adwat wrote: »

Fact : Electricity in the UK costs nearly 30% more than in France.

... and gas costs 37% more. Fact.

adwat

magyar wrote: »

As would I. I'd also like to pay less for petrol, food and water bills.

My point is that everyone keeps bleating on about "oh, the utilities are ripping us off", "oh, they're all just one big cartel", "oh, when's this idiotic government going to solve the problem".

Reality: energy has got more expensive over the last few years and is going to continue to get more expensive.

If you want to do something about it, use less.

Which brings us back nicely to my original comment - we are ever encouraged to use energy more efficiently, however, prices increase to compensate. You seem to ignore the fact that the various energy companies are averse to investing in increased generating capacity - it's far easier (and cheaper) to encourage the poor householder to use less by being more effiecient. Not a bad business model if you can get away with it - and they are!

Government has a role to play in this as does the energy regulator.

Utilities used to be in public ownership for a very good reason - heating and water are basic human needs. Gone are the days when we would forage for firewood and gather water from the local stream. It is one of the jobs of government to provide these basic amenities for the population it is supposed to represent at a price that all are able to afford.

Clearly you don't think this way, and that those millions in this country who are in fuel poverty are simply unfortunate losers in the wonderful success story that was the privatisation of these basic utilities.

adwat

magyar wrote: »

... and gas costs 37% more. Fact.

....Source?

adwat

magyar wrote: »

... and gas costs 37% more. Fact.

Wrong.

Natural Gas is 15% more expensive in France compared to the UK.

Source - International Energy Agency - http://www.iea.org/publications/free...p?PUBS_ID=1199 - Publication Date October 2011

Mazio_2

It depends on what is the primary heating in these countries.

LPG is used mainly for cooking in hot countries or a very short winter heating so very small amounts are used so cost can be much higher and represent very little house hold budget.

The figures need to correspond to usage and amounts per house hold or costs about being higher or lower represent very little.