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Energy comes at a very high price - get over it.
Comments
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I reckon you're right about those who are closer to fuel poverty being the least likely to change. We can all do our bit to help the vulnerable but rates of switching are so low it makes me wonder how much people really care anyway.
Switching/ reducing is currently the only game in town. Playing can reduce the rate of increase but choosing not to play will be expensive.The problem is a lot of people close to fuel poverty can't get the better deals.
How easy is it to switch from premium rate prepayment meter or if you are in arrears?
What if you live in short term rental and or poorly insulated, heated rented accomodation?
Waht if you are elderley and single and IT illiterate?"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 -
Earlier in the thread, I queried the fact that the media has failed to explore the statement of the OVO guy that he can supply energy at significantly lower prices than the Big 6.
Today, the Times at least provided a list of these so-called 'independent' suppliers (in what way are the Big 6 not 'independent'?). But they failed to explore the reasons why these independent suppliers do not figure in the general debate.
I recall a comment from elsewhere that the 'independent' suppliers use the call centres of the Big 6, but that it is even more difficult than usual to get any sense out of them.
Just before the price rise was announced, I instigated a switch to SSE - they were offering a 1-year fix at 2012 prices, and £100 cashback after three months. I signed up for online account management, and one of the emails which I received welcomed me to Marks and Spencer! I have also received a torrent of paper through the post.
One of the characteristics of the independent suppliers, apparently, is that if they have fewer than 250,000 customers, they are exempt from the green taxes. But I happened to find out that they also do not take part in the Warm Homes Discount scheme, which has been worth £135 a year for the last three years.
In an undifferentiated market, the energy suppliers can only compete by price 'manipulation' - but in other markets, manipulation is illegal.
TruckerTAccording to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.0 -
Right now, they suggest there is a market solution to prices. Mid/long term I really don't think there is, unless they considered radical options like breaks in supply.
Why should other energy customers subsidise others, those that genuinely can't afford it, through their bills.
If people can't afford energy then it should be resolved through the benefit system and general taxation.
If we are saying people will have to cope without energy then they should be honest about it."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 -
Perhaps it would be better for government to openly admit how energy prices will increase and help people prepare for it more. Right now, they suggest there is a market solution to prices. Mid/long term I really don't think there is, unless they considered radical options like breaks in supply.
Yes - that's how it could work. People on benefits would be guaranteed a supply for a limited number of hours per day. Others could pay extra for a guaranteed 24/7 energy supply (which would probably necessitate having a standby generator installed on their premises).
We have already been warned that there may be a shortfall in energy supplies over the next few winters. It is entirely reasonable (not) that the poor should be the first to experience power cuts.
TruckerTAccording to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.0 -
Yes - that's how it could work. People on benefits would be guaranteed a supply for a limited number of hours per day. Others could pay extra for a guaranteed 24/7 energy supply
TruckerT
When smart meters are introduced such apolicy would no doubt be introduced.
Like mobile phones you just pay silly money once you go outside your tariff parameters - if they can't remotely terminate supply out of ours."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 -
Just before the price rise was announced, I instigated a switch to SSE - they were offering a 1-year fix at 2012 prices, and £100 cashback after three months. I signed up for online account management, and one of the emails which I received welcomed me to Marks and Spencer! I have also received a torrent of paper through the post.
TruckerT
I wonder who is paying for you £100 cashback?"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: »How easy is it to switch from premium rate prepayment meter or if you are in arrears?
What if you live in short term rental and or poorly insulated, heated rented accomodation?
Waht if you are elderley and single and IT illiterate?
As I said there's only one game in town - switching and reducing consumption.
Can't or won't play? Get used to helping me with my bill.0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »I wonder who is paying for you £100 cashback?
I don't really care! My total energy bill used to be around £375 pa, and it was pretty well covered by my Heating Allowance, my Warm Homes Discount, and 2-3 weeks Cold Weather Payments.
The abolition of two-tier tariffs has clobbered my (very small) gas bill by around 600%, but hopefully the cashback will result in a real-terms reduction in my coming year's energy costs.
TruckerTAccording to Clapton, I am a totally ignorant idiot.0 -
As I said there's only one game in town - switching and reducing consumption.
Can't or won't play? Get used to helping me with my bill.
If You can't switch and reduction means you risk dieing of hyperthermia because you have no control of how the efficently energy is consumed.
Then you are quite happy, in some case, for the least able to pay, in society, to subsidse you in your energy bills?"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: »If You can't switch and reduction means you risk dieing of hyperthermia because you have no control of how the efficently energy is consumed.
Then you are quite happy, in some case, for the least able to pay, in society, to subsidse you in your energy bills?
The link between old people dying to the amount of insulation in my roof is so tenuous to be irrelevant. They die because they can't or won't heat their houses.
My bills are to cover energy use. Me overpaying seems an inefficient way of helping those least able to pay.0
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