Energy companies and the ripping off

[markysimmo]

Do any people on here live on their own if so - whats the average cost of utilities in an average month? Im talking, gas, electricity and water.

Thanks

Dont pay for water its in landlords service charge but my electricity and gas combined is £35 a month, im not here for 12 hours a day and very rarely have the heating on as im a top floor flat and the people below me must have their's on 24/7 as my flat is always warm

 

[Gordinho]

Again I'm not saying there isn't something dodgy going on, but let's not go all Daily Mail and start throwing our toys out of the pram before you actually look at the facts behind things like these price rises.

One of the things I object to which isn't illegal but leaves a sour taste in your mouth when dealing with energy suppliers is the complicated way they've introduced of billing people, bills are exactly the opposite of models of clarity, nothing could be simpler than closing meter reading minus opening meter reading = units used at X pence per unit = amount charged. Introducing several conversion factors for no good reason reduces visibility and that's directly against the spirit of competition and choice that were supposedly part of the reasons for privatisation. We wouldn't buy our petrol from the pump in this manner, why have energy companies been allowed to bill in this manner and why is it only being clamped down on recently? Why have five tariffs or more for the same gas coming down the same pipe through the same meter to the end user? It can only be designed to allow confusion and overpricing.

 

[Gordinho]

Seem to remember crawley had problems and i think gordi as well saying something about it.

The problem I had with Scottish Power was they promised to supply my energy needs for £82 a month based on historical actual usage including a hard winter and before one billing cycle was over tried to ramp up my dd by £50 a month. I flatly refused to allow them to do so.

 

[Crawley]

This is the problem I have with this issue when people start talking about things like energy prices, this is perhaps the most basic and flawed way of interpreting the data. I'm not saying the energy companies AREN'T ripping off consumers, but lets at least look at the real facts.

First off, the figures are not adjusted for inflation. £49 in 1999 is closer to £68 today. Not a monumental difference, but a difference none the less and should be remembered.

Next, here are a couple charts on the spot prices for oil and natural gas (in USD) adjusted for inflation. Notice that on the charts, 1999 is a historical low in natural gas and a near 40 year low for oil.

Also lets remember that in the last decade, Green issues have come to the forefront of politics in the form of extra regulation. I'm sure this has resulted in some increase in price, for example I remember watching a show on the BBC not long ago which mentioned how one of Britains biggest coal power plants had shifted to 10% biomass.

Again I'm not saying there isn't something dodgy going on, but let's not go all Daily Mail and start throwing our toys out of the pram before you actually look at the facts behind things like these price rises.

Facts or not, in my case at least, it is still a monumental price rise, which, when you couple it with water, petrol, and other such essentials, is a massive amount of money to be paying out, especially when so much is paid to individuals as dividends, from profits being made.
My wages certainly have not increased by 265% since 1999, and I doubt there are many here whose have.

 

[a spur from swansea]

i sort of live on my own,live in a terrace house, my water rates was about £40 a month,just had a meter fitted they say that will cut my costs by half,use my works gym to shower etc wash dishes every other day,don't flush my tinkle away every time i go to the toilet but do with my poo,lol!!!!.......gas/ electric on a dual fuel contract with eon,about £65/70 a month,with the recent cold weather don't put the heating on just wrap myself around with a duvet on the sofa,when i got family over pop the central heating on before they come and turn it off when they go.

Modern britain for you!!!

in the late eighties weren't we living off our reserves in the north sea but thats dired up now of sorts,plus the big con of green energy we're paying for that now as well.

their is a link with money saving expert.com that you put your details in and they email you if a cheaper deal comes up.

 

[elyid]

Where I live in Spain it's not unheard of for people with fairly large houses (4/5 bed) to pay €800-€1000 every month for utilities (gas, water, electric). The main reason is they charge a very high standard charge for the privilege of being connected.

Moving back to the UK later this year and cheap fuel prices are something I look forward to! You don't realize how lucky you are.

 

[Superhudd]

I'd happily pay the current prices if the energy was coming from a state controlled system. Profits moving to help the NHS, schooling or MPs fees.
It makes my blood boil that the government want EDF to build the Nuclear Power station and EDF want us to subsidise the fricken build.

 

[Gordinho]

I'd happily pay the current prices if the energy was coming from a state controlled system. Profits moving to help the NHS, schooling or MPs fees.
It makes my blood boil that the government want EDF to build the Nuclear Power station and EDF want us to subsidise the fricken build.

So that's the utilities and the railways to be taken back into public ownership for the benefit of the consumer and the country as a whole, I like it. We already part own the banks.

Roll on the Socialist Republic of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

 

[Superhudd]

So that's the utilities and the railways to be taken back into public ownership for the benefit of the consumer and the country as a whole, I like it. We already part own the banks.

Roll on the Socialist Republic of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

Something needs to be done to fill the whole. Basic amenities need to be supplied by the government. Things like Garibaldi biscuits can be owned privately.

I would also like to see somekind of watchdog on social housing, last month my mothers rent went up 10%, She is on a pension and has no choice but to pay it. Its just not right. Where is that 10% going, probably on bonuses.