Off grid coal/wood/gas help from goverment? 14 September 2022 at 4:16PM in LPG, heating oil, solid & other fuels 6 replies 301 views

arttochoke

Hi all, I live on a narrowboat and have been told by my supplier that the price of coal and wood is going up a lot this winter and I wondered if there is help for people living on narrowboats etc as we are not seemingly covered by the energy help by the government, not that I have heard anyway.  At £15+ per bag of coal now (used to be £11 or £12), I and other boat dwellers I know will struggle.  Does anyone know what I can do please?  Thanks.

dunstonh

Does anyone know what I can do please? 

1) adjust your spending habits to cover the cost

2) adjust how much coal/wood you use.

That is pretty much how it stands at the moment.

mumf

We use coal and wood in our  house - it is our primary heating. We will have to deal with it. As Dunstonh says, adjust spending to cover fuel costs - like me. I am not being rude,but folks seem to think that government will cover EVERYTHING. That will not,and cannot happen. 

lohr500

mumf said:

We use coal and wood in our  house - it is our primary heating. We will have to deal with it. As Dunstonh says, adjust spending to cover fuel costs - like me. I am not being rude,but folks seem to think that government will cover EVERYTHING. That will not,and cannot happen. 

+1. Totally agree. 

silverwhistle

It's certainly not what you wanted to hear, but I'd certainly look in to measures to improve insulation. I've just done it for my loft, using foil insulation under the rafters, in addition to already decent levels over the joists , because payback is more worthwhile now! Maybe look in to foil, thermal curtains, including at the door etc. It all helps.

Oh yes, as someone who mainly uses wood for heating, up your scrounging levels! Aldi are selling briquettes which might be handier for storage in your situation.

drsquirrel

mumf said:

We use coal and wood in our  house - it is our primary heating. We will have to deal with it. As Dunstonh says, adjust spending to cover fuel costs - like me. I am not being rude,but folks seem to think that government will cover EVERYTHING. That will not,and cannot happen. 

Would it be fair to say then that they shouldn't help with electricity too?

mumf

The MAJORITY of people live in places that are ON grid. Gas and electricity. Now not everyone has gas - I don’t- but most have electricity. 

Now before you get the hump,my brother lives off grid on his own land in a big showman wagon. He has solar ,solid fuel and a diesel heater. His view? Like mine. Just gotta get on with it.