Energy expenditure forecast and the State Pension

Sterlingtimes

Albermarle said:

It is difficult to tell exactly, but it looks like your actual energy consumption is on the high side. 

The figures often quoted for the price cap for a typical household, relate to 12,000 KWH of gas and 2,900 KWH of Electricity. ( per year)
If you are using much more than that, then some discussion between the four adults on how to lower consumption would maybe be a good idea.
If it is a larger older house, it will always be more difficult to heat, but there are things you can do to keep the energy consumption more under control and keep the bills down . Best to start working on it now with your household before the Winter comes.

Yes, annually we use 21,000 kWh of gas and 5,400 kWh of electricity so we are on the high side.

maisie_cat

Comparing the costs of energy for 4 adults with a single pension income is a bit like comparing apples and pears.
There will not be many households of 4 adults relying on a single state pension. A single pensioner living alone would likely use far less energy.
Our 2 person household relying on one private pension for now has energy bills of 13% of income. It's looks a high percentage  but that's because we decided not to take my pensions early so it's misleading.

Albermarle

Sterlingtimes said:

Albermarle said:

It is difficult to tell exactly, but it looks like your actual energy consumption is on the high side. 

The figures often quoted for the price cap for a typical household, relate to 12,000 KWH of gas and 2,900 KWH of Electricity. ( per year)
If you are using much more than that, then some discussion between the four adults on how to lower consumption would maybe be a good idea.
If it is a larger older house, it will always be more difficult to heat, but there are things you can do to keep the energy consumption more under control and keep the bills down . Best to start working on it now with your household before the Winter comes.

Yes, annually we use 21,000 kWh of gas and 5,400 kWh of electricity so we are on the high side.

There are also official figures for a typical high usage household, which are 17,000 KWH of gas and 4,300 KWH of electricity.
So you are about 20% above that, so you could use those figures as a target maybe.

missile

Farway said:

I think your post & forecast demonstrates why the whole energy market & how to pay bills is going to explode with who knows what results & consequences

It's not just pensioners, millions of lower paid & those on benefits will also be hard hit and just not able to pay

I have no idea what the solution is, and I suspect no one else has either, glib shouts for nationalising, fracking etc are not going to resolve what is an international problem and lack of longer term planning in past decades

In previous times the strong would simply invade & take the supplies but in a nuclear world that is not a good idea, if it ever was

Price increases are much higher in UK than any other country in Europe. Brexit the gift that keeps on giving

Pollycat

maisie_cat said:

Comparing the costs of energy for 4 adults with a single pension income is a bit like comparing apples and pears.
There will not be many households of 4 adults relying on a single state pension. A single pensioner living alone would likely use far less energy.
Our 2 person household relying on one private pension for now has energy bills of 13% of income. It's looks a high percentage  but that's because we decided not to take my pensions early so it's misleading.

Agreed.
That was what I was getting at.
No wonder the energy bill is so high if all 4 adults are in different rooms all consuming energy.

Is there a reason why 2 adults don't contribute to this bill?

henry24

Do people really need to keep houses so warm when energy prices are so high it's not that many years ago when very few houses had central heating and most winters were colder than we get now 

Pollycat

henry24 said:

Do people really need to keep houses so warm when energy prices are so high it's not that many years ago when very few houses had central heating and most winters were colder than we get now 

I know some people who wear shorts, t-shirt & flip-flops in the house in winter.
I wear leggings, t-shirt, sweater and thick socks and have a blankey in case I feel particularly cold.
And we can afford to pay higher bills!

henry24

They'll be the ones complaining that they can't afford to keep warm when I'll be dressing like you 

Albermarle

Pollycat said:

henry24 said:

Do people really need to keep houses so warm when energy prices are so high it's not that many years ago when very few houses had central heating and most winters were colder than we get now 

I know some people who wear shorts, t-shirt & flip-flops in the house in winter.
I wear leggings, t-shirt, sweater and thick socks and have a blankey in case I feel particularly cold.
And we can afford to pay higher bills!

You often see people outside in the Winter, wearing flip flops/shorts/summer clothes. 
Anyway one silver lining to this issue is that many people who have never given it much thought before, will have to restrict their energy usage and not have it so warm indoors. So good for the environment.

froggy1

some dont have a choice of how to heat their homes,especially if you suffer from osteoarthritis and cannot take usual helpful painkillers due to a transplant and the medications that keep you alive, also living on state pensions,the mind boggles at the thought of how much it will cost and winter lasts quite a few months in the UK