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How to live without heating - save £000s

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  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,129 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    HertsLad said:
    That's correct. I will not be paying the standing charges.
    Only just seen this reply . So you are paying £100s (possibly £1000s) to be disconnected from the grid??

    No. HertsLad has said he is with a supplier who will refund your standing charge if you use no energy for a year.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Swipe
    Swipe Posts: 5,607 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 28 August 2022 at 10:39AM
    QrizB said:
    HertsLad said:
    That's correct. I will not be paying the standing charges.
    Only just seen this reply . So you are paying £100s (possibly £1000s) to be disconnected from the grid??

    No. HertsLad has said he is with a supplier who will refund your standing charge if you use no energy for a year.
    @HertsLad Hmm Very interesting. Who is your supplier and which tariff is that if you don't mind me asking?

  • HertsLad
    HertsLad Posts: 370 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    wild666 said:
    I put a T-shirt over the thermal vest plus a fleece dressing gown in winter.
    I urge everyone to avoid wearing any short sleeved garments. They increase the 'depth' of the layers, whilst leaving your arms less covered.

    I found a selfie photo of myself which I took in Feb 2020 to send a friend who was interested/shocked by my approach. I remember there had been a light snow fall and the temperature in my house was down as low as it ever gets at 2C. One thermometer read 1C but ramekin dishes part filled with water have never frozen over so it definitely hasn't dropped to freezing point. I wondered about posting the photo here so you can see exactly what I wear to stay perfectly warm at that temperature. I blurred out my face but my outer fleece needs a wash so it doesn't really show me in a good light. Will you allow for the fact the photo wasn't taken for public display or should I wait until this winter and take a further photo in spotless clothes?
  • Swipe
    Swipe Posts: 5,607 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Post it now
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,710 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 28 August 2022 at 12:26PM
    QrizB said:
    HertsLad said:
    That's correct. I will not be paying the standing charges.
    Only just seen this reply . So you are paying £100s (possibly £1000s) to be disconnected from the grid??

    No. HertsLad has said he is with a supplier who will refund your standing charge if you use no energy for a year.
    Must have missed that ! Never heard of that - I know some have said that when you first take possession of a property and NEVER USE anything ,the deemed supplier won't charge you the S/C. How would you prove zero use tho'? Would they send a man round to ratify the meter read ? Can't believe they would take the customer's word! So working smart meter(s) required ?
  • HertsLad
    HertsLad Posts: 370 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    How would you prove zero use tho'? Would they send a man round to ratify the meter read ? Can't believe they would take the customer's word! So working smart meter(s) required ?
    Yes, I have a smart meter. Every month since April, I have been charged the rip off standing tariff but it shows 0 KWh consumed. Eon is my supplier, as luck has it. They told me if I go a year and use no more than 10kwh then they refund the amount paid for the year reaching that point and refund each further month. Given it's some kind of goodwill gesture, it's fingers crossed that's what they will do. They could say the offer has been discontinued or I was misinformed, when I lay claim in April 2023, i.e. if I can keep up zero use over the winter. Or after a few years of paying nothing they could say their patience has run out and I need to start paying again or pay for disconnection. And again for re-connection some time. I doubt if I was misinformed because 2 or 3 different agents told me the same thing, after I called back for clarifications.
  • drphila
    drphila Posts: 334 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi HertsLad.

    Despite disparaging remarks from some others, I, personally, am finding this thread incredibly useful. Thanks.

    I have a question regarding base layers.On several occasions, you mention 100% polyester. Many brands I come across mention 95% polyester (and the rest elastane) or even 99% polyester (and the rest elastane).The Nevica brand from Sports Direct,for example.

    So how important is the 100% figure?

    Regarding standing charge refunds, I googled the topic and found nothing on EON.SSE have a scheme but the requirements are so stringent, they will only apply to a miniscule number of households.


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