Energy Bills

I just switched to Fuse as they were the cheapest a bit lower than the price cap as well 

Covered End said:

MuttleyCAFC said:

Sadly the massive profits are being made by the producers, who operate on global markets and not the suppliers. The war in Iran with no credible end plan is the cause. We need this war to end fast. The long term solution is to have a greater reliance in renewables. There isn't really a short term one.

Agreed, but even if the war ended today the 25% January 1st price cap rises are baked in and will still happen.

Yes, It's terrible isn't it? But the war needs to end to bring prices down beyond that. There is no benefit to Trump in dragging this out other than losing face. He is going to get walloped in the mid terms because of it.

Been an octopus customer for 5 years, but they are not the company they were then as now.! We got financial support for two years, as we lost out on the Warm Home Discount, due to HMG change of rules. Personally I cannot see how someone who lives in a 1890 end of terrace house, although modernised still has a Poly Carbon Roof on a conservatory, put in by the previous owner, and despite trying to get a grant to replace this, no such luck. 
I have obtained additional insulation for the loft, had the energy green advisors down  here, put in Shutters, curtains, and even  a new gas boiler two years ago, with help of a grant, via the council. 
My son installed a pair of doors from our kitchen to the said conservatory, so at least the heat loss will be reduced this winter. 

I pay £130 a month, with Octopus. took out a fixed price till next year, but have to pay /had to pay £200-£250 during the November till March. currently have a credit of £200, Frankly I fear the winter months, spend most afternoons with a heated blanket when watching tv/ on the computer. Do not put the heating on till 5pm in late October. 

To think that I  would be in this fuel poverty situation is ludicrous, and I regard myself as fortunate, as I have family that will assist me if need be.  

Not had a proper holiday this year, a few days on the Isle of Wight with friends. Yes I have wealthy friends who are very comfortable, I also have friends who are really struggling. 

So I will be looking around when the fix comes to an end, Octopus seem to have taken on too many failed companies that have failed, and the customer services are not what they were.

I was a British Gas customer for decades, too long . Loyalty these days counts for very little, the same with digital companies, and Insurance  companies. I hope the government  do what they can for families, I think we are in for a very expensive winter. 

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

And yet I think he said 10 years to get there. 

A positive step nonetheless. 

I didnt realise that - dissappointing that so many of these decidions are being pushed to next decade when change is needed now.

blackpool72 said:

cantersaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

And yet I think he said 10 years to get there. 

A positive step nonetheless. 

I didnt realise that - dissappointing that so many of these decidions are being pushed to next decade when change is needed now.

It's been like this for years. 
The party in power make promises for things that are due to happen in 10 years or so time. 
Then they lose the next election and the incoming party doesn't carry through with it.
Very frustrating. 

Without getting drawn into other examples as want to keep the thread on topic - In this case I just cannot see the justification, other countries have made this move and none of them had a long wait time, it is literally zero cost to government in making this change but probably the largest potential impact on regular peoples lives of all the changes on the table. There is simply no justification to waiting. Gas last year was down to 27% of energy production, expected to be much lower next year and tiny by 2030. Why wait? There is no justification at all. Other than the previously mentioned points on party donars and fossil fuel interests having disporportionately large lobbying power in Westminster.

I believe that Andy Burnham has asked Miatta  Fahnbulleh, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, to try to find a way to decouple electricity prices from the most expensive (gas) as soon as possible. We will then be able to benefit from cheaper renewables.

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

blackpool72 said:

cantersaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

And yet I think he said 10 years to get there. 

A positive step nonetheless. 

I didnt realise that - dissappointing that so many of these decidions are being pushed to next decade when change is needed now.

It's been like this for years. 
The party in power make promises for things that are due to happen in 10 years or so time. 
Then they lose the next election and the incoming party doesn't carry through with it.
Very frustrating. 

Without getting drawn into other examples as want to keep the thread on topic - In this case I just cannot see the justification, other countries have made this move and none of them had a long wait time, it is literally zero cost to government in making this change but probably the largest potential impact on regular peoples lives of all the changes on the table. There is simply no justification to waiting. Gas last year was down to 27% of energy production, expected to be much lower next year and tiny by 2030. Why wait? There is no justification at all. Other than the previously mentioned points on party donars and fossil fuel interests having disporportionately large lobbying power in Westminster.

I assume the time is unravelling contracts / commercial obligations. I may have got it wrong. 

That's right. The electricity generators are on contracts for difference. They are using a carrot and stick approach to get the generating companies to move away from this but it will be a slow process in terms of the contractual process.

redman said:

cantersaddick said:

blackpool72 said:

cantersaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

And yet I think he said 10 years to get there. 

A positive step nonetheless. 

I didnt realise that - dissappointing that so many of these decidions are being pushed to next decade when change is needed now.

It's been like this for years. 
The party in power make promises for things that are due to happen in 10 years or so time. 
Then they lose the next election and the incoming party doesn't carry through with it.
Very frustrating. 

Without getting drawn into other examples as want to keep the thread on topic - In this case I just cannot see the justification, other countries have made this move and none of them had a long wait time, it is literally zero cost to government in making this change but probably the largest potential impact on regular peoples lives of all the changes on the table. There is simply no justification to waiting. Gas last year was down to 27% of energy production, expected to be much lower next year and tiny by 2030. Why wait? There is no justification at all. Other than the previously mentioned points on party donars and fossil fuel interests having disporportionately large lobbying power in Westminster.

I fail to see that domestic gas useage will be tiny by 2030. There are millions of people who rely on gas for heating homes, water and cooking. This will reduce but hardly likely to tiny. There are many people like me  who live in houses which are totally unsuitable for heat pumps. ( I've been told this by 2 expert boiler engineers). However I note your use of the term energy production as opposed to useage. 

Yes the conversation is about electricity generation not about gas use in the home for heating or cooking. Its accepted those things will take longer to reduce. But gas useage for electicity generation has fallen significantly in the last 5 years to now only make up just over 25% of our resource mix and is predicted to fall further and faster in the next 4. The current marginal pricing mechanism we are discussing is for energy not for gas supplied to the home. 

cantersaddick said:

Jints said:

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

blackpool72 said:

cantersaddick said:

valleynick66 said:

cantersaddick said:

ME14addick said:

Andy Burnham has announced that the link between electricity prices and the most expensive form of electricity generation (gas) will be removed. Hopefully with increased use of renewables bills will be reduced.

Huge news. And a few years late but I'll take it. I've been banging on about this for years. As the more than 20 countries who have moved away from marginal prices demonstrate this will only push prices downwards.

And yet I think he said 10 years to get there. 

A positive step nonetheless. 

I didnt realise that - dissappointing that so many of these decidions are being pushed to next decade when change is needed now.

It's been like this for years. 
The party in power make promises for things that are due to happen in 10 years or so time. 
Then they lose the next election and the incoming party doesn't carry through with it.
Very frustrating. 

Without getting drawn into other examples as want to keep the thread on topic - In this case I just cannot see the justification, other countries have made this move and none of them had a long wait time, it is literally zero cost to government in making this change but probably the largest potential impact on regular peoples lives of all the changes on the table. There is simply no justification to waiting. Gas last year was down to 27% of energy production, expected to be much lower next year and tiny by 2030. Why wait? There is no justification at all. Other than the previously mentioned points on party donars and fossil fuel interests having disporportionately large lobbying power in Westminster.

I assume the time is unravelling contracts / commercial obligations. I may have got it wrong. 

That's right. The electricity generators are on contracts for difference. They are using a carrot and stick approach to get the generating companies to move away from this but it will be a slow process in terms of the contractual process.

Thanks - I understand the point and would rather we do things properly. Noting that other countries who have made the move away from marginal pricing have been able to do it much quicker.

In the medium-longer term the planned grid improvements will make a big difference but are offset by increasing electricity use, particularly from data centres.

I'm not sure how it works in other countries. My guess is that many were much less dependent on gas than us for generation. Gas was setting the electricity price 90% of the time a few years ago. It's now 60% but only forecast to go down to 50% by 2030

Hydrogen. That’s the fuel of the future

RaplhMilne said:

So I am currently on the OVO variable after my two year fixed finished in August.  So I have compared the OVO 1 year fixed offer with the variable I am currently on. Both of these are obviously ahead of the increase coming on 1st October 2026.

CURRENT VARIABLE.                       1 YEAR FIXED DEAL.             % increase MOVING TO FIXED

ELECTRIC  STANDING 42.65p.           48.66.                                   14% increase
ELECTRIC PER KW.       25.09p.           28.93.                                   15% increase

GAS STANDING.             28.12p.           27.08.                                     4% decrease
GAS PER KW.                      7.14p.            9.91p.                                   38% increase

So considering the cap increase is 4% surely I would be an idiot to move onto their fixed deal. As I anticipate a 4% increase in the variable , which would still leave me considerably under their 1 year fixed price ?

Am I missing something here, or failing to understand the cap…….. ?

An the increased cost of the Gas per Kw under the 1 year plan of 38% seems way out of left field.

I think there is going to be another price hike in January.

Household energy prices are set to soar in January, with a typical annual bill forecast to jump by £276, figures shared with the BBC reveal.

The 16% predicted increase would hit millions of households at the coldest time of year, and would mark the biggest rise in bills for four years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwz0zvj4m1myo

Covered End said:

Hey! I switched to Fuse for my energy - it’s way cheaper, and their support team are actual humans. Sign up directly on the app or website and use my code STEPHEN28595  and we can earn £100 each!

https://www.fuseenergy.com/app

This still works if anyone wants to switch to Fuse (cheapest or one of).

Huskaris said:

On Octopus Agile, currently price is -3.6p, I've turned the heating off and I'm using the oven to heat the house, turned hot water off and using the immersion, currently managing to use just over 8kw.

Trying to persuade my wife to use the dishwasher and washing machine to do her bit but she's not as excited as I am about this development!

Get ironing man!