Price Cap ?- say it how it is

[Deleted User]

mountyuk said:

My idea to sort this is to set pricing thresholds so that people who use a lot of energy (for example heating an outside swimming pool) subsidise those that are just getting by trying to heat 1 room in a small house and cook dinner.

The thresholds would apply to everyone, but once a threshold is passed the per unit price would rise and any further energy consumed would be charged out at an increased rate. Any number of thresholds could be in place - ensuring that everyone can afford the basics required to survive this winter but those that wanted to and can afford to enjoy excessive use could do so whilst also supporting the less fortunate in society.

I'm not sure if my idea is practical but it strikes me as a fairer way to handle the current crisis.

Annual, monthly, weekly or daily threshold? 

Holiday homes and second home owners only pay the cheapest price, but people who are home a lot (pensioners, wfh parents with small children, people with some disabilities) have to pay the higher prices?

People who have the disposable income to spend on insulation, heat pumps or whatever new technology arrives get to pay less, but people who can't are forced to use more and pay the even more expensive rates?

It has been discussed - as have many other options - and the consensus appeared to be that what we have now is the least bad option.

MWT

MouldyOldDough said:

Electricity in the USA averages 12p per kWh at the moment
I can't find the rate for mains gas 

Not always easy to compare with prices in the USA as there can also be distribution charges, similar to our standing charge, which covers the network maintenance costs, but that can be both a fixed monthly fee and an additional kWh charge on top of the power charge.

QrizB

MouldyOldDough said:

Electricity in the USA averages 12p per kWh at the moment
I can't find the rate for mains gas 

Are you planning to move there?

Alnat1

Of course he's not, he wouldn't be the only one on his street with all the lights on then.

artyboy

QrizB said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Electricity in the USA averages 12p per kWh at the moment
I can't find the rate for mains gas 

Are you planning to move there?

Surely a hot country with plentiful energy like Saudi Arabia would be a better bet. Admittedly it's not all roses there, but it could help solve this specific problem...

t0rt0ise

Channel 4 news has just explained it perfectly, giving the Kwh rates, so they can do it. I've also heard radio 4 several times today complaining that it's badly announced by ofgem.

Chrysalis

Well my thread had no replies as usual lol.

Cant be bothered to link the video here again, but Martin told ITV off live on air for their ticker showing this meaningless average price live on air which made me smile, and explained the unit rate plus SC is what people need to look at, quoting a % increase is perhaps the language most will understand, but unit rates need to be quoted for sure in headlines, not deep inside articles.  If the media boycotted this average use headline nonsense then maybe ofgem will stop using it.

Chrysalis

MouldyOldDough said:

Electricity in the USA averages 12p per kWh at the moment
I can't find the rate for mains gas 

I touched on this in another thread, the Americans produce as much power as they use, they import around 20% of their demands and year on year their imports are decreasing.  Thats why things are much better there.

Meanwhile we import much more and are increasing year on year our imports.

In 1998 we were a net exporter.

caveman38

lindatoo said:

Deleted_User said:

There's a table (or maybe a tool) on the main MSE site.

Or you could work it out from the OFGEM letter with a bit of division, but someone else has already done that.

Bear in mind its not just a regional difference, it's also different for prepayment vs credit vs cash.

Thank you I've found it. 

What will the price cap standing charges and unit rates for gas and electricity on direct debit be for my region from 1 October 2022?

	Gas	Electricity
North West	Unit rate: 14.75p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 51.32p per kWh   Standing charge: 43.26p per day
Northern	Unit rate: 14.63p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 50.09p per kWh   Standing charge: 49.93p per day
Yorkshire	Unit rate: 14.67p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 50.88p per kWh   Standing charge: 49.55p per day
Northern Scotland	Unit rate: 14.7p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 50.92p per kWh   Standing charge: 51.07p per day
Southern	Unit rate: 14.88p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 52.07p per kWh   Standing charge: 44.41p per day
Southern Scotland	Unit rate: 14.7p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 51.61p per kWh   Standing charge: 50.66p per day
North Wales & Mersey	Unit rate: 14.77p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 53.83p per kWh   Standing charge: 48.6p per day
London	Unit rate: 14.94p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 53.65p per kWh   Standing charge: 33.16p per day
South East	Unit rate: 14.72p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 53.16p per kWh   Standing charge: 42.68p per day
Eastern	Unit rate: 14.74p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 52.91p per kWh   Standing charge: 38.94p per day
East Midlands	Unit rate: 14.66p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 50.87p per kWh   Standing charge: 45.77p per day
Midlands	Unit rate: 14.76p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 51.57p per kWh   Standing charge: 49.15p per day
South Western	Unit rate: 14.85p per kWh   Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 51.71p per kWh   Standing charge: 52.64p per day
South Wales	Unit rate: 14.82p per kWh    Standing charge: 28.49p per day	Unit rate: 51.82p per kWh   Standing charge: 49.17p per day
Assumes payment via direct debit and includes VAT (at 5%).

What is the link for this table?

[Deleted User]

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/

Scroll down for regional.