What extra support measures or regulations do you expect the government to bring in this winter?

Mike360

Heard Martin Lewis say the increase is 77% in October, with some other analysts predicting even higher.

The £400 bills help was announced in May, so is out of date, so its right that further financial assistant is provided by the government for the rise.

MattMattMattUK

Mike360 said:

Heard Martin Lewis say the increase is 77% in October, with some other analysts predicting even higher.

The £400 bills help was announced in May, so is out of date, so its right that further financial assistant is provided by the government for the rise.

The increase may be higher, that does not justify throwing more good money after bad.

Evan3020

More measures to increase supply or encourage energy efficiency would be better.
There is plenty of gas and oil untapped in this country but we prefer to import it for some reason.

Mstty

The people that just receive £400 will be looking at reducing energy, those who get the full whack of help it may not sink in til next winter.

MattMattMattUK

Mstty said:

The people that just receive £400 will be looking at reducing energy, those who get the full whack of help it may not sink in til next winter.

I have been cutting back regardless even though I can more than afford it, and plan to cut back more come winter. It seems wasteful to spend the money on energy when I can put on a nice thick jumper and thick socks. There is some core expenditure that cannot realistically be dropped, the lifestyle usage is then where the discretion comes in. If I ran the heating all winter, keeping an indoor temperature of every room at 22c I could easily end up with annual average payments of £300-400 pcm, as it is, with some sensible economising, keeping the indoor temperature around 16-19c (not heating the spare room etc.) and wearing sensible clothes then I can expect my usage to cost me around £180-185 pcm based on the October price rise (£0.45 per kWh, £0.35 per day standing charge). I could keep my home hot, but I do not think that makes sense. The £400 plus the £150 from earlier in the year will cover three months total usage so it actually is quite generous on that basis. As well as my cutting back saving me money, it also reduces demand, further releasing pressure on the demand side of the equation. 

Sea_Shell

The recent predictions stated that an "average" user could face a £500 a month bill during the darkest depths of winter.

So let's just digest that...

It could mean those on pre-pay having to add £16 a day.

How many families (on such meters) fall into the category of higher than average usage*, but not entitled to any of the "additional" payments.

They could easily be expected to find £20-£25 a day!!    More, if the weather bares it's teeth. ☹️



* I don't know where in the "typical" user scale a family of 4 in a 3 bed semi fit in.  Which "average" is used?

MattMattMattUK

Sea_Shell said:

The recent predictions stated that an "average" user could face a £500 a month bill during the darkest depths of winter.

So let's just digest that...

It could mean those on pre-pay having to add £16 a day.

How many families (on such meters) fall into the category of higher than average usage*, but not entitled to any of the "additional" payments.

They could easily be expected to find £20-£25 a day!!    More, if the weather bares it's teeth. ☹️



* I don't know where in the "typical" user scale a family of 4 in a 3 bed semi fit in.  Which "average" is used?

That average is based on no behavioural changes, I expect that behavioural changes will kick in pretty quickly come winter for those who pay via a pre-pay meter and those on variable Direct Debit, for those on fixed Direct Debits it may take 3-6 months for them to realise the full extent of their usage. 

Coffeekup

MattMattMattUK said:

I have been cutting back regardless, and plan to cut back more come winter. It seems wasteful...
As well as my cutting back saving me money, it also reduces demand, further releasing pressure on the demand side of the equation. 

I'm with with you. I been cutting back over last few years (mainly as i want to reduce my co2 emissions and I'm also tight).

September last year when I knew prices were gonna go out of control I decided too see how much I really could cut back... Previous 2 years energy usage 2020 and 2021 were 1,800 kwh's for electricity and 12,000 kwh's for gas. Roll on to this year's cut backs and I'm down to 1,100 kwh's electricity and 4,500 kwh's of gas note: mild winter).
Which in monetary terms means my direct debits have gone from around £50 a month in 2020 to around £100 a month for this coming winter period ...
Yes it's doubled but my electricity usage has been reduced by a third and gas usage by half, if we all did something similar most could still afford their bill's and it's also better for the environment.

Fun fact: A typical tree can absorb 21kg of co2 a year but this is only achieved once fully grown. 
So with my electricity and gas usage for 2021 my emissions for the year was 2,075kg of co2.
For 2022 my cut back on energy usage has released 1,084kg.
Almost 1 tonne less co2 released in to the atmosphere, I realize not every home is the same with their usages but with climate change it looks like the 27 million homes in the uk could make a big difference.

Telegraph_Sam

Can I ask what success if any you people have had in actually tapping in to subsidies to encourage houseowners to top up their loft insulation? And from what sources precisely? My efforts to date make me believe that much of the hype is hot air (pun?). The local authority refers me on to loft insulation contractors but there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm amongst installers in this area [Co Durham] not helped by the various strings attached and hoops "ECO certificates" (?) that applicants have to jump through.  I am still trying to estsblish what is the latest recommended qualifying insulation thickness. It would be helpful if I could. benefit from other people's experience and tips. Tks

Evan3020

12000 units of gas? do you mean units or kwh?