Energy news in general

brewerdave

What I found particularly chilling yesterday from the various Industry supremos spouting forth ,was the suggestion that those in fuel poverty should be subsidised by other customers ! End game ? We will all end up in fuel poverty !!

Ultrasonic

brewerdave said:

What I found particularly chilling yesterday from the various Industry supremos spouting forth ,was the suggestion that those in fuel poverty should be subsidised by other customers !

What is the alternative? Whether directly via energy companies or through general taxation, I don't really see one.

brewerdave

Ultrasonic said:

brewerdave said:

What I found particularly chilling yesterday from the various Industry supremos spouting forth ,was the suggestion that those in fuel poverty should be subsidised by other customers !

What is the alternative? Whether directly via energy companies or through general taxation, I don't really see one.

Taxation /benefits system would be a much fairer way of doing it rather than jacking up the tariffs for the "better off" to subsidise a so called Social tariff. And that would include taxation of the parent Companies of the suppliers and their directors !!

Mstty

I think we all need to go through some hardship with energy prices, otherwise no one would ever reduce their consumption if they are compensated for immediately.

I personally think we need a harsh winter and higher bills to make us aware of the cost of energy and then some measures could come in for those just above the poverty line.

However those below the poverty line and unable to have heat and food they do need something in place for October. We will be looking out for our neighbours to spot those in trouble.

We are looking at everything so we still have "fun" money but have cut back a great deal already with more savings to be made.

My last quip "Thank goodness for global warming, imagine cold winters like the 70's and 80's" (tongue in cheek comment) 

Ultrasonic

brewerdave said:

Ultrasonic said:

brewerdave said:

What I found particularly chilling yesterday from the various Industry supremos spouting forth ,was the suggestion that those in fuel poverty should be subsidised by other customers !

What is the alternative? Whether directly via energy companies or through general taxation, I don't really see one.

Taxation /benefits system would be a much fairer way of doing it rather than jacking up the tariffs for the "better off" to subsidise a so called Social tariff. And that would include taxation of the parent Companies of the suppliers and their directors !!

Taxation of consumers was probably what the energy company boss you referred to had in mind. What may be 'fair' will very much depend on each individual's definition. 

markin

"715,000 people owed money to British Gas"

"Chris O'Shea, the boss of British Gas-owner Centrica, said the UK's largest supplier had seen a rise of 125,000 households in debt over the past 12 months."

Its a meaningless number without the average owed and if they have been billed yet.

Flight3287462

Look at what else is coming down the line.  Germany's producer price inflation jumps to 30.9% in March, the highest level since 1949.

Zandoni

Mstty said:

I think we all need to go through some hardship with energy prices, otherwise no one would ever reduce their consumption if they are compensated for immediately.

I personally think we need a harsh winter and higher bills to make us aware of the cost of energy and then some measures could come in for those just above the poverty line.

However those below the poverty line and unable to have heat and food they do need something in place for October. We will be looking out for our neighbours to spot those in trouble.

We are looking at everything so we still have "fun" money but have cut back a great deal already with more savings to be made.

My last quip "Thank goodness for global warming, imagine cold winters like the 70's and 80's" (tongue in cheek comment) 

Everybody talks about people on benefits etc. it’s the young families with big mortgages or high rents that I feel sorry for. They earn just enough to keep away from the benefit line and they end up not being able to pay their bills.

savers_united

Zandoni said:

Mstty said:

I think we all need to go through some hardship with energy prices, otherwise no one would ever reduce their consumption if they are compensated for immediately.

I personally think we need a harsh winter and higher bills to make us aware of the cost of energy and then some measures could come in for those just above the poverty line.

However those below the poverty line and unable to have heat and food they do need something in place for October. We will be looking out for our neighbours to spot those in trouble.

We are looking at everything so we still have "fun" money but have cut back a great deal already with more savings to be made.

My last quip "Thank goodness for global warming, imagine cold winters like the 70's and 80's" (tongue in cheek comment) 

Everybody talks about people on benefits etc. it’s the young families with big mortgages or high rents that I feel sorry for. They earn just enough to keep away from the benefit line and they end up not being able to pay their bills.

Totally agree with you, I know a few like that who have worked for as long as I have known them, a kid or 2, never claimed anything (as far as I know), have high child care costs, normally more than 1 car as both parents need to work and even though working are not exactly well off, probably getting by each month with some money being tucked away for a summer holiday and some work on their homes. 

They are going to find the increase in childcare, food, energy and fuel really hard, but will then be asked to contribute more to help those who are deemed fuel poor. These are not well off people, many will not be far off that poverty line themselves, when you add their income v their outgoings that are increasing rapidly it would not take much. You would basically be asking these people to either work extra hours to fund others or cut back themselves.

This is different as these increases we are seeing are effecting everyone, from my spreadsheets I predict as a family we will be £4-£5k worse off than last year when all rises are accounted for, £1500 on energy alone. 

markin

savers_united said:

Zandoni said:

Mstty said:

I think we all need to go through some hardship with energy prices, otherwise no one would ever reduce their consumption if they are compensated for immediately.

I personally think we need a harsh winter and higher bills to make us aware of the cost of energy and then some measures could come in for those just above the poverty line.

However those below the poverty line and unable to have heat and food they do need something in place for October. We will be looking out for our neighbours to spot those in trouble.

We are looking at everything so we still have "fun" money but have cut back a great deal already with more savings to be made.

My last quip "Thank goodness for global warming, imagine cold winters like the 70's and 80's" (tongue in cheek comment) 

Everybody talks about people on benefits etc. it’s the young families with big mortgages or high rents that I feel sorry for. They earn just enough to keep away from the benefit line and they end up not being able to pay their bills.

Totally agree with you, I know a few like that who have worked for as long as I have known them, a kid or 2, never claimed anything (as far as I know), have high child care costs, normally more than 1 car as both parents need to work and even though working are not exactly well off, probably getting by each month with some money being tucked away for a summer holiday and some work on their homes. 

They are going to find the increase in childcare, food, energy and fuel really hard, but will then be asked to contribute more to help those who are deemed fuel poor. These are not well off people, many will not be far off that poverty line themselves, when you add their income v their outgoings that are increasing rapidly it would not take much. You would basically be asking these people to either work extra hours to fund others or cut back themselves.

This is different as these increases we are seeing are effecting everyone, from my spreadsheets I predict as a family we will be £4-£5k worse off than last year when all rises are accounted for, £1500 on energy alone. 

Many years ago, possibly 10, The was i think a Dispatches episode from C4 that had a couple both working and Earning 100k a year and in the same position, I don't think they revealed the income split but child care was around 20k nice big house and yet claiming they were close to 'poverty' I forget what the episode was about, possibly energy bills or cost of living, i bet they also had new cars and holidays.