Energy comes at a very high price - get over it.

TruckerT

The energy companies tell us that their price increases are partly the result of the need to finance the cost of reducing our dependence on fossil fuel. Mr Cameron's response is to say 'ok - forget that then - we'll cut out the green schemes, and we'll all be better off'.

It was Mr Cameron who took great delight in visiting the Arctic region (probably by helicopter) in order to hug a polar bear.

TruckerT

chucky

TruckerT wrote: »

The energy companies tell us that their price increases are partly the result of the need to finance the cost of reducing our dependence on fossil fuel.

When did the UK energy companies say this?

TruckerT

chucky wrote: »

When did the UK energy companies say this?

Correction. The energy companies say that their high prices are partly due to the green 'taxes'. They have offered no justification at all for their 10% price increases.

Thank you for allowing me to make this clear.

TruckerT

chucky

TruckerT wrote: »

Thank you for allowing me to make this clear.

Not sure why you didn't say this in the first place.

TruckerT wrote: »

Correction. The energy companies say that their high prices are partly due to the green 'taxes'. They have offered no justification at all for their 10% price increases.

So it's partly due? What else is it due to?

dotdash79

Shale gas is the quickest way of stabilising prices.

michaels

The 'funny' thing is the reson the nuclear deal is so expensive is because of the fear that shale gas might sharly reduce energy prices as it has in America...of course unlike in America where prices actually fell when gas got cheaper I'm sure in the UK if it does happen the Govt (of whatever colour) would site 'environmental reasons' and use taxation to keep prices high.

(PS I just read superfreakonomics on how to geo-engineer global warming away. Not a costless solution but it sounds like giving up several percent of GDP to go carbon free in the short term would be a mistake)

Percy1983

I will say I have little sympathy for many, I saw a guy on the news saying he had been a customer of british gas for over 10 years and now they are upping the price he might stuggle...

Just switch supplier!!!!

Yes prices are on average going up, but if everytime a company put prices up they lost all there customers they wouldn't do it so often.

michaels

Percy1983 wrote: »

I will say I have little sympathy for many, I saw a guy on the news saying he had been a customer of british gas for over 10 years and now they are upping the price he might stuggle...

Just switch supplier!!!!

Yes prices are on average going up, but if everytime a company put prices up they lost all there customers they wouldn't do it so often.

Many of those who don't switch fall back on 'all the companies raise their prices' so there is no point switching 'it is a cartel' and anyway look at the 'doorstep switching scandals'....sounds like the marketing departments of the energy companies have being doing a great job at segmenting the market - those who can be bothered to switch to save 300+ per year have a wide choice of tariffs, those who are too lazy to even look believe the 'cartel' message and allow the energy companies to make big profits. No wonder British Gas adverts are all about how cuddly and reliable they are rather than about their prices.

So there is a market failure, a failure by consumers to bother to look at prices rather than just paying over the odds and the suppliers are too blame by manipulating the press to provide the impresson that prices are a rip off and that there is nothing a consumer can do except to bend over and suck it up

TruckerT

chucky wrote: »

Not sure why you didn't say this in the first place.

So it's partly due? What else is it due to?

The energy companies are facing universal criticism as never seen before. This cannot be solely due to their business practices.

Energy is the life blood of capitalism/civilisation, and its providers understand that fact.

Mr Scargill tried to hold us to ransom, and maybe the owners of Grangemouth are trying to do a similar thing.

It is a paradox of epic proportions that nearly all of the energy production which we use to create our wealth, also appears to contribute to the gradual erosion of the natural world which we all inhabit and enjoy.

In the longer term, we need to stop worrying about energy prices, and concentrate on reducing demand. None of the current hysteria seems to be aimed in the right direction.

TruckerT

Carl31

Percy1983 wrote: »

I will say I have little sympathy for many, I saw a guy on the news saying he had been a customer of british gas for over 10 years and now they are upping the price he might stuggle...

Just switch supplier!!!!

Yes prices are on average going up, but if everytime a company put prices up they lost all there customers they wouldn't do it so often.

I watch the prices between suppliers like a hawk, and would swap as soon as i felt i was getting a bad deal compared to elsewhere

but the difference between suppliers is pretty tiny nowdays, its often not worth the bother

theEnd

Am I the only person who thinks energy is really cheap?