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David Cameron & energy prices
Comments
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Its very simple, the wind doesn't always blow. Meaning that you need to have alternative sources which is hugely expensive. Tidal power is MUCH more reliable.
The problem is intermittancy which effects almost all sources of power to some extent. Gas power arrives from a small number of pipelines which can be disrupted, nuclear power stations can be shutdown for planned maintenance, etc.0 -
Radiantsoul wrote: »The problem is intermittancy which effects almost all sources of power to some extent. Gas power arrives from a small number of pipelines which can be disrupted, nuclear power stations can be shutdown for planned maintenance, etc.
We do, of course need 'surplus' capacity to cater for outages but with wind power we need 100% of its capacity as backup as the wind over the whole of the Uk doesn't always blow.0 -
Radiantsoul wrote: »
Flattening out demand so more is consumed at night/winter would reduce the investment society makes in energy production that is not producing more much of the time.
Smart meters will drive this by necessity. They will be able to inflict premium prices for premium consumption."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Radiantsoul wrote: »I guess the outcome will be an equalisation of tariffs, but on the whole energy companies do not make huge margins.
The retail arms don't but their wholesale arms do. Similar to petrol and diesel operations.
A low percentage net profit on a near guaranteed volume market isn't bad. Lets face it unless global warming advances pretty quickly, with a rising population, ever more gizzmos to power then fuel consumption isn't going to move south anytime soon."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Most people aren't prepared to get that anal for the sake of 20p here and 50p there.grizzly1911 wrote: »Smart meters will drive this by necessity. They will be able to inflict premium prices for premium consumption.
Apparently there's cheese for £1 at Tesco, but not everybody who gets the MSE newsletter has rushed straight off to Tesco."It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis0 -
The suppliers arguably form a cartel but of course one wouldn't expect the 'best rates' to vary much as the product is identical.
It's often impossible to work the 'best rate' for oneself as the prices changes so often and the hassle factor in changing is considerable.
We change regularly through a comparison site and haven't experienced any problems, it is easy and pain free once you decide which tariff to opt for.
As you say the underlying packaged cost doesn't really alter much once you have moved to online/DDR/fix , just depends on the fix period you choose. What I do find is that the suppliers take it in turns to be the most competitive for a period.
What irritates me in that being forced to change each year/2 years is the costs incurred with the change that we the consumer end up paying for probably £100/150 at time.(Think admin costs to open/close accounts, marketing costs, comission payments to comparison sites and cash backs). Less need to constsntly change to obtain a competitive price would make it cheaper for all."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »The retail arms don't but their wholesale arms do. Similar to petrol and diesel operations.
The wholesales arms are linked to world prices though. It is a very different sort of business.0 -
Radiantsoul wrote: »The wholesales arms are linked to world prices though. It is a very different sort of business.
I don't disagree.
Vertical integration allowing them to massage the figures to suit."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Most people aren't prepared to get that anal for the sake of 20p here and 50p there.
Apparently there's cheese for £1 at Tesco, but not everybody who gets the MSE newsletter has rushed straight off to Tesco.
When it it becomes 100% more, not dissimilar to "economy seven" and more for using in the morning and evening attitudes will be forced to change."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Kennyboy66 wrote: »A tory government, yes a tory government making ludicrous interference in the free market.
The UK has the second lowest electricity prices in western europe (after France) and Cameron wants the state to set prices to get a few cheap headlines.
Its like 1970's all over again. What next ? a prices and income policy ?
He really is a rancid charlatan
the last time the govt intervened in order to ensure transparency of pricing that i can remember was the issue of credit card administration charges by airlines. the govt declared victory, but the result was that instead of charging say £8 for most credit cards but allowing you to pay with no extra charge on certain obscure cards, the airlines all started charging a flat £10 administration fee.
hooray!
i anticipate the same result here.
basically sensible people who always make sure they are on the best tarriffs will get screwed as the prices are just all increased to the standard tarriff.0
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