Energy news in general

Ultrasonic

StartledJesus said:

Do we have any algorithm experts on the forum? Just wondering if the various ‘estimated reading’ and direct debit ‘suggested’ amount algorithms used by suppliers will take account of the inordinately warm weather this last week, which I suspect will have prompted many customers to turn their heating off, and venture outside more.

I am aware that the suggested plan of action is to submit actual meter readings on 31/3, so that bills can be based on actual readings before the price increases, and then after. However, as we all know, suppliers don’t necessarily use actual readings even when provided. Furthermore, I half suspect everyone submitting readings on the same day will crash their systems. Also, in my experience, DD updates tend to be, strangely, always on the high side…

The weather is about to get cold again...

I have no insider knowledge but I thought supplier estimates were all based on past usage and did not take weather into account. Particularly as the calculations are to estimate future use.

StartledJesus

@Ultrasonic Is usage not related in any way whatsoever to the weather, then? By the time of the price increase, that spell of warm weather will be in the past and will, of course, have affected usage, and hence the algorithm. I wasn’t suggesting any relationship to future weather conditions or forecasts, or only inasmuch as they will be related to the past historical conditions and patterns of usage. 

StartledJesus

@QrizB So there are no security implications at all from having much of the transmission and metering network in foreign hands, or those whose domestic considerations are not their most important concern? Thanks for setting my mind at rest.

StartledJesus

From energylivenews.com 

Ofgem has been urged to stop alleged ‘discriminatory policies’ over standing charges.

Campaigners from Fuel Poverty Action have sent a letter to the energy regulator claiming the administrative costs of taking on customers from failed energy suppliers, which are loaded on the standing charge element of energy bills, put lives at further risk.

Standing charges are a fixed daily amount consumers pay to cover the costs to supply gas and electricity, no matter how much energy they use.

The level of these standing charges varies in different regions as suppliers set prices based on differences in network charges and the complexity of the network infrastructure.

The campaign group notes that people are already rationing heat and power while being forced to pay for industry failures.

Fuel Poverty Action’s Co-Director Ruth London said: “Why have Ofgem decided to make the poorest customers pay for their bad decisions and for bad practice in the industry?

“This huge injustice must be urgently reversed. Then standing charges should be ended, and we should move instead to energy for all, a pricing structure where everyone will enough energy free to cover their basic needs for heating, cooking and power.”

An Ofgem spokesperson told ELN: “Our top priority is to protect consumers including making sure bill payers pay a fair price. We know this is a challenging time.

“Customers struggling to pay for energy may be eligible for extra help such as debt repayment plans, emergency credit for prepayment metered customers, priority support and schemes like the Winter Fuel Payment or Warm Home Discount rebate.

“We are strengthening the retail market through effective stress testing of suppliers, which will reduce the cost of companies leaving the market as far as possible.”

QrizB

StartledJesus said:

QrizB So there are no security implications at all from having much of the transmission and metering network in foreign hands, or those whose domestic considerations are not their most important concern? Thanks for setting my mind at rest.

No problems, any time.

Sea_Shell

News coming out of Germany this morning won't be good for wholesale prices.

[Deleted User]

Sea_Shell said:

News coming out of Germany this morning won't be good for wholesale prices.

I wouldn’t worry. Driving westwards on the M53 from Lymm to Chester yesterday, our future energy supply was there for all to see. Twenty or so land-based wind turbines and not a single blade was moving. Today, I suspect will be even worse. Not a breath of wind and no sun. 

QrizB

[Deleted User] said:

Sea_Shell said:

News coming out of Germany this morning won't be good for wholesale prices.

I wouldn’t worry. Driving westwards on the M53 from Lymm to Chester yesterday, our future energy supply was there for all to see. Twenty or so land-based wind turbines and not a single blade was moving. Today, I suspect will be even worse. Not a breath of wind and no sun. 

Today, in fact, is much better than yesterday (at least, according to the Drax site it is). We've been generating 7-8GW of wind energy since breakfast-time, making up 15% of our consumption, roughly on a par with nuclear.

tghe-retford

Sea_Shell said:

News coming out of Germany this morning won't be good for wholesale prices.

The plan to get unfriendly countries to pay in roubles for gas has been delayed according to numerous sources including BILD and Reuters. That may also impact the wholesale price in Europe. And it is expected that the same plan will be expanded to other exports from Russia and other nations as well.

bristolleedsfan

https://globalnews.ca/news/8721153/russian-gas-exports-payment-rubles-kremlin/