Gas/Electricity Price Increases

[elsiegee40]

How did you find potential installers?

 

I have tried in the past but everything seems to go a one of those middle man type websites that forward your details onto a proper company - probably for an unreasonably large fee

 

Checkatrade. Went direct for all 3.

[BOOT]

You know how cold it is outside? It's that cold inside my home.

[jmak]

You know how cold it is outside? It's that cold inside my home.

Is that because your heating isn't working or because the price increases have made it unaffordable? If it's the latter, you might be able to get some help with the bills:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

[Davit2005]

Trying to save putting the heating on extra times as it is, the heating is only on for 15mins early in the morning then 15mins again in the evening. Solar panels will not be very easy if in rented/council accommodation, thankfully my flat is well insulated and the neighbour downstairs is an OAP so the warmth rises but others not so lucky.

[BOOT]

Is that because your heating isn't working or because the price increases have made it unaffordable? If it's the latter, you might be able to get some help with the bills:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

 

Both.

I don't qualify for any of those grants.

[jmak]

I'm on a variable rate (have been hoping to get onto an EV rate for nearly two years but still waiting for a smart meter) and missed the boat for a "cheap" fixed rate.

 

Just had my notification for next month's rate and it's gone DOWN. Not by much, but maybe a welcome sign...

[Koldov]

So, yesterday I came to the end of my previous fixed rate tariff, on which I have been paying £63.06 per month direct debit... I've also somehow managed to accrue £80 of credit!

 

I've had no communication from them as to what is happening, but I presume I will just be dumped onto their standard variable rate.

 

Out of interest I clicked on the new quote 'recommended for you' (I hope that would be the cheapest fixed rate tariff available) and it was £135.59 per month... That's a 115% increase!

 

Kicking myself now as I did look a couple of months ago and it was £84 (but I stupidly thought that was too much)!

[supportman]

So, yesterday I came to the end of my previous fixed rate tariff, on which I have been paying £63.06 per month direct debit... I've also somehow managed to accrue £80 of credit!

 

I've had no communication from them as to what is happening, but I presume I will just be dumped onto their standard variable rate.

 

Out of interest I clicked on the new quote 'recommended for you' (I hope that would be the cheapest fixed rate tariff available) and it was £135.59 per month... That's a 115% increase!

 

Kicking myself now as I did look a couple of months ago and it was £84 (but I stupidly thought that was too much)!

 

Yeh thats about right, wholesale gas prices have become stable at about 110% increase!

 

Wholesale market indicators | Ofgem

[BOOT]

This winter, I'm just sitting in the dark on an electric blanket. Even that is barely affordable.

[Sonic007]

So, yesterday I came to the end of my previous fixed rate tariff, on which I have been paying £63.06 per month direct debit... I've also somehow managed to accrue £80 of credit!

 

I've had no communication from them as to what is happening, but I presume I will just be dumped onto their standard variable rate.

 

Out of interest I clicked on the new quote 'recommended for you' (I hope that would be the cheapest fixed rate tariff available) and it was £135.59 per month... That's a 115% increase!

 

Kicking myself now as I did look a couple of months ago and it was £84 (but I stupidly thought that was too much)!

 

 

Exactly the same here. Was on a fixed rate 1 year tariff and it has now ended. You will be automatically moved over to the standard variable rate tariff. You shouldnt be tied into anything so if you want to later secure a new deal or move then there should be no penalty.

 

But like you the cheapest fixed deal is more or less double what I was paying on my last fixed tariff.

 

According to expert Martin Lewis, the advice is to go on to the variable tariff for the time being until hopefully things improve and there are better deals...though this doesnt look like it's happening any time soon.

If you find a fixed tariff that is less than 50% more than what you were currently paying then it may be better going with that as who knows if it could increase even more!

Edited February 1, 2022 by Sonic007

[CHiLL]

I've had fun with my energy supply recently. I moved house at New Year and was with Octopus, on their fixed rate March 2021 plan (16p KW/H for electricity). I was originally told that in order to move, I'd have to cancel my current Octopus contract, start with the new property's current supplier (EDF) and then take out a new Octopus contract. After contacting EDF, their rates were absolutely shocking. Other than the price cap, their fixed rates were like 54p KW/H for electricity. A huge leap from the current pricing from Octopus. So I called Octopus back and they were able to help me out. They advised that they'll initiate the home move and pause my contract, so I'd be on EDF's variable rate until they take over the supply. Then, they'll put me back on the fixed rate I was previously on, until that expires in March. After that, as I'll be a loyal customer, I'll get discounted rates in March when looking at new pricing (unless the variable rate is cheaper).

 

I am/was paying ~£80pcm for my dual tarrif. I'm dreading what I'll be after March.

[FragglePete]

This winter, I'm just sitting in the dark on an electric blanket. Even that is barely affordable.

 

Know the feeling, resorting to using our Wood Burner to heat the downstairs of the house instead of heating the whole house (manage to get a load of logs in over the Autumn before timber prices went stupid), our energy bills are currently still costing us £184 a month! I was paying around £120 a few months ago when I was with Igloo before they went 'pop'. I live in a 4 bed detached house and now have the thermostat sitting at 17c when we always had it at least 18c before to help mitigate things. Much grumbling from the family.

 

Pete

[nicholab]

One suggestion is to user a Sonoff TH16 with temperature probe on you hot water as you can then set different temperatures during the day. As in the morning you might need a lot for a shower. We also normally only have are heating on for two hours a day and use the stove to burn logs that are currently an old shed.

[supportman]

I just insulated a part of our loft with a new 175mm insulation roll ontop of the old 100mm stuff.

 

Its amazing the difference its made to the warmth of the whole house. Took a couple of hours to do and cost less than £150 in materials. I also used loft legs to raise the boarding to make space.

 

Now I just need to get the other half to move all her boxes of clothes to do the rest!

[Ditto]

I just insulated a part of our loft with a new 175mm insulation roll ontop of the old 100mm stuff.

 

Its amazing the difference its made to the warmth of the whole house. Took a couple of hours to do and cost less than £150 in materials. I also used loft legs to raise the boarding to make space.

 

Now I just need to get the other half to move all her boxes of clothes to do the rest!

About two-thirds of mine is about that depth - like you I noticed the difference it has made a difference and we had the wall cavity filled at the same time. The remaining central third is less insulated due to loft boarding and I was thinking about raising on legs too so that I could have both the space and insulation. What legs did you use and was it relative easy and stable? Did you take any steps to keep access to wiring, water pipes etc.?

[jmak]

About two-thirds of mine is about that depth - like you I noticed the difference it has made a difference and we had the wall cavity filled at the same time. The remaining central third is less insulated due to loft boarding and I was thinking about raising on legs too so that I could have both the space and insulation. What legs did you use and was it relative easy and stable? Did you take any steps to keep access to wiring, water pipes etc.?

Really important to make sure that electrical wiring isn't covered by insulation as that could cause it to overheat and start a fire. When I did ours, we also had halogen downlighters from before they needed fire hoods. I made sure to leave plenty of room around those too, although they've now been replaced with fireproof led lamps.

[3s-gtech]

Are you sure?

 

If electrical cabling is ever getting warm, something is wrong - it being thermally insulated should make no difference in a domestic setting. Bear in mind it has to run through wooden joists, inside insulated studwork walls and ceilings too.

 

Warm cables = too much current for the cross section

[jmak]

I'll admit to repeating what an electrician told me when he looked in my loft without thinking properly [emoji15]

I suppose it might not make a massive difference especially as mostly what you'll find in lofts is lighting circuits and there's less current draw than the original design now that LEDs have replaced incandescent bulbs. But cable is rated to carry different currents in free air vs enclosed spaces

 

Looks like the difference in "ampacity" is about 20%

https://www.reconelectrical.co.uk/image/data/pdfs/Cable%20Current%20Carrying%20Capacities.pdf

[supportman]

About two-thirds of mine is about that depth - like you I noticed the difference it has made a difference and we had the wall cavity filled at the same time. The remaining central third is less insulated due to loft boarding and I was thinking about raising on legs too so that I could have both the space and insulation. What legs did you use and was it relative easy and stable? Did you take any steps to keep access to wiring, water pipes etc.?

 

I used these, very easy to use just 2 screws needed for each leg.

 

Loftleg Raised Floor Loft Legs - 175mm Pack of 12 | Wickes.co.uk

 

No special access for cables really, they are fine below insulation. Lights are important and you can use this to give them some breathing space. Its less important now people have LED lighting but still a good idea.

 

LoftLeg Loft Lid Downlight Protector Hood | Wickes.co.uk

[Koldov]

I'll admit to repeating what an electrician told me when he looked in my loft without thinking properly

 

Are you sure?

 

If electrical cabling is ever getting warm, something is wrong - it being thermally insulated should make no difference in a domestic setting. Bear in mind it has to run through wooden joists, inside insulated studwork walls and ceilings too.

 

Warm cables = too much current for the cross section

 

 

This has been repeated many times and has become almost 'urban legend' style advice...

 

There probably was some truth in it many years ago, before proper electrical safety of things like cable/fuse or even fire retardant insulation (if you even had any back then) etc...

Edited February 2, 2022 by Koldov

[BOOT]

And to make the cost of living worse... Interest rates have risen again.

[FragglePete]

And.... the council tax rebate is for houses in Bands A to D. Ours is an E ! Shafted just a little bit more. Seriously had enough of this, what with the NI increases, Energy, Food and no doubt Council Tax going up I reckon we're out of pocket by at least £1500 over the coming year. FFS!

 

Pete

[Andrew_C]

Oh it's the wholesale price of gas is it?

 

[h=1]New calls for windfall tax as Shell unveils highest quarterly profit in eight years [/h]

[CHiLL]

I'm reading this stuff but I'm not sure what it all means for me. So from April, my annual council tax bill will reduce by £150? Then from October, I'll get a £200 discount on my annual energy bills, but from the following April I'll have to pay it back at £40 a year for the next five years?

 

I also don't understand why my rates are also going up for my green electricity supply, which shouldn't rely on the wholesale price of gas?

Edited February 3, 2022 by CHiLL

[jmak]

I'm reading this stuff but I'm not sure what it all means for me. So from April, my annual council tax bill will reduce by £150? Then from October, I'll get a £200 discount on my annual energy bills, but from the following April I'll have to pay it back at £40 a year for the next five years?

 

I also don't understand why my rates are also going up for my green electricity supply, which shouldn't rely on the wholesale price of gas?

Nailed it. The way they describe the cap is driving me a bit mad. Tell me how much difference it makes per kWh.