Energy Costs, Standing Charges, Saving Tips

jennylg

I am a pensioner on a yearly income around £12,500.  I have reduced my energy usage as much as I can, yet I am still paying almost 10% of my income each month on energy (currently £110 per month).  That is £1320 per year - and I am told I am a very low user.  Yet I haven't a hope in hell of reducing it by any more while the standing charges remain so high!!  To my mind, the only fair way of apportioning standing charges is to charge them according to usage.  At the moment the high users get far more value for money than the low users.  It might also encourage high users to cut their usage too if they're paying proportionately more.  Better for the planet too.  Those who are high users because of a medical condition or disability should get special consideration.

With regard to saving tips - I learned some years ago that I can do without hot water from the boiler, thus using it for central heating only.  I don't take baths, only showers, and my shower is electric (not that costly to install).  I am lucky enough to have a dishwasher and washing machine.  I only run them when full, and they both run from cold water.  If I want to wash face, hands or glassware at the sink, I do so in cold water.  If I really want hot water for anything (very rare), I boil a kettle.  Doesn't half save a lot of boiler usage.

jennylg

QrizB

That is £1320 per year - and I am told I am a very low user.

Your standing charges are about £300 per year. The rest is energy costs.

I am a pensioner on a yearly income around £12,500.

The state pension increased by more than 10% this year. That's (at least in part) intended to cover the increased energy costs. You will also have received £400 in energy bill credit from the taxpayer and winter fuel allowance.

I don't take baths, only showers, and my shower is electric (not that costly to install).

The hot water from an electric shower will cost about four times as much as the same amount of water heated by gas. On the flip side, a gas shower might use twice as much water as an electric one.

(There were a couple of threads discussing this last year, I'll look for a link later.)

dealyboy

@jennylg ...
Right ... I am a state pensioner on a lot less than £12,500, I pay £650 a year electric only, I get the same from the standing charge as a high user.

I dream of having an electric shower, I only have a bucket, plastic bucket ... luxury.

... and I'm not kidding!

pseudodox

I am a pensioner on a bit less than your income level.  Like me you got £500 WFA last year & will again this winter.  Plus £400 EBSS, plus (maybe) £150 C Tax rebate.  Plus we are as said above getting a generous pension increase.  My energy consumption for past 12 months is a bit lower than yours, and deducting all those monetary benefits I have paid around £100 from my actual income.  I also use an electric shower - showering in continental style (wet. Water off. Soap up. Rinse) - my shower is as far from the boiler in a 3 storey house as it could be so water from the boiler would take gallons to reach it hot & then more would be left in the pipes afterwards.  I use hot water as needed, use a cold fill washing machine & wash up by hand when I have a sink full.  Waste water from kitchen can then be diverted to garden use.

I feel very fortunate to be able to snuggle under a duvet to watch TV & not have to keep a family warm.  An old style gas fire on lowest setting keeps me cosy if it turns a bit chilly when the boiler has gone off 2 hours before bedtime & I am still watching late TV.   Clothing layers & hot drinks keep body temperature comfortable.  

Standing charges are proportionally higher for low users, but the infrastructure to support my supply costs the same as it does to the neighbours who are a bigger household & we do live in an era where supply is pretty reliable 24/7/365 & maintenance/repairs are dealt with.  I don't feel 10% of my income is excessive to keep the lights on, my house warm-ish & I can have a hot cooked meal every day & keep myself & my clothes clean.

I pay more in council tax than for energy, even with the 25% discount.

Spoonie_Turtle

jennylg said:

…  Those who are high users because of a medical condition or disability should get special consideration.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people with chronic conditions to get a doctor to take them seriously, let alone get a proper diagnosis?

I see this kind of suggestion very often, and while well-intentioned and I understand the sentiment, the people making it clearly have no experience of having to fight the medical system just to get care.  They clearly have the idea that if something's wrong, you go to the Dr and get a diagnosis easily.  Which is very often not the case.  And especially for people who are already disabled, when medical settings are actually some of the least accessible and most traumatising parts of society.

Maybe leave it to the people who actually have experience of these things to decide what would work.  I for one can tell you that with the combination of inaccessible healthcare and a government that sets punishingly high thresholds for any sort of financial help for illness/disability, gatekeeping yet more help is very much not the way to go.