We Really Are Up The Creek...
I don't know how similar or different it is for people buying domestic energy outside of the UK but over here we are paying some of the highest prices and we also have the most confusing tariffs probably of anywhere.
I already find it difficult to afford electric and gas and I signed up to a scheme to try and freeze the prices in case they go up. You know that they will never come down.
So my prices are frozen until October 2013. However, because of standing charges(which have to be paid before you use any electric and gas)I have to find a set amount daily and it also includes 5%VAT so that comes in around approx £250 annually. Basically for nothing!
On top of that the unit price of gas is kept high for 7 months of the year and is only reduced when it is unlikely to be needed. Summer in other words. If it cannot be afforded now why should we believe that it is going to get any better.
If there was no standing charges or VAT that would be a start. It ain't going to happen. I pay approx 43p standing charge daily for gas and then approx 4p per unit.
For electric it is around 34p standing charge and then approx 11p per unit. How do I keep prices down? By avoiding using the gas central heating and rationing the use of the electric.
Now our Prime Minister is saying his Government plans to make all energy companies put their customers on the lowest price possible, that does not necessarily mean that the price is going to be cheap just the cheapest that they can or wish to offer. Industry insiders think in reality this will mean we will actually pay more. So this idea could backfire.
I try to keep warm by the all the ways I have in recent months, dressing gowns, hot water bottles, thermal underwear, thermal socks, layered clothing, gloves, hats, duvet, fleeces etc...and still that does not always work. As I write this my feet are freezing. Oh, how I long for the days(it won't happen)where when Mum was here the house was lovely and warm, cosy.
Last week when I was at the theatre forgetting my troubles I was so warm and cosy, able to take my coat off. Now I am more likely to want to put more clothes on including a hat and a pair of gloves even.
I know of so many and I mean many who can no longer afford to heat their homes at all or have to use the gas and electric more sparingly for so many reasons and often have to decide whether paying their rent, council tax and other bills coming in and even whether eating comes first.
Mainly because wages are too low and few if any have had a wage rise for a number of years. Yet the cost of living just keeps rising and if those working are struggling, heaven knows how the ill, unemployed, pensioners who are being attacked manage on a limited income which likely as not will never improve and most who have to take State help are genuine and the few examples that do get into the media or are criticised are rare.
I already find it difficult to afford electric and gas and I signed up to a scheme to try and freeze the prices in case they go up. You know that they will never come down.
So my prices are frozen until October 2013. However, because of standing charges(which have to be paid before you use any electric and gas)I have to find a set amount daily and it also includes 5%VAT so that comes in around approx £250 annually. Basically for nothing!
On top of that the unit price of gas is kept high for 7 months of the year and is only reduced when it is unlikely to be needed. Summer in other words. If it cannot be afforded now why should we believe that it is going to get any better.
If there was no standing charges or VAT that would be a start. It ain't going to happen. I pay approx 43p standing charge daily for gas and then approx 4p per unit.
For electric it is around 34p standing charge and then approx 11p per unit. How do I keep prices down? By avoiding using the gas central heating and rationing the use of the electric.
Now our Prime Minister is saying his Government plans to make all energy companies put their customers on the lowest price possible, that does not necessarily mean that the price is going to be cheap just the cheapest that they can or wish to offer. Industry insiders think in reality this will mean we will actually pay more. So this idea could backfire.
I try to keep warm by the all the ways I have in recent months, dressing gowns, hot water bottles, thermal underwear, thermal socks, layered clothing, gloves, hats, duvet, fleeces etc...and still that does not always work. As I write this my feet are freezing. Oh, how I long for the days(it won't happen)where when Mum was here the house was lovely and warm, cosy.
Last week when I was at the theatre forgetting my troubles I was so warm and cosy, able to take my coat off. Now I am more likely to want to put more clothes on including a hat and a pair of gloves even.
I know of so many and I mean many who can no longer afford to heat their homes at all or have to use the gas and electric more sparingly for so many reasons and often have to decide whether paying their rent, council tax and other bills coming in and even whether eating comes first.
Mainly because wages are too low and few if any have had a wage rise for a number of years. Yet the cost of living just keeps rising and if those working are struggling, heaven knows how the ill, unemployed, pensioners who are being attacked manage on a limited income which likely as not will never improve and most who have to take State help are genuine and the few examples that do get into the media or are criticised are rare.
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 12:10 am
5 Comments:
Blame the EU and New Labour (especially Ed Miliband) in that order; although George has helped matters since.
good luck today with the Doctor.
Yes Span,
On this one I think they are all just about the same and I'm not sure who could get us out of the s***!
I cannot say that I am a supporter of the EU nor where it seems to be going but I think we're in trouble even if we tried to go it alone.
I keep seeing the UKIP being put forward as a possible alternative but I only know that they seem to have the in or out referendum on their agenda and they could be more right wing than what we have already on other policies so is it better to stick with who we know?
Thanks for the good wishes for seeing the Dr.
I'm not sure why I am going nor what he can really do but it never does any harm to have the support of your Dr and to have things on your file even if it is mental rather than physical.
Besides I am the last of the line so once I leave this world who cares what is there for anyone to see I will just be a name.
I'll get up at 7am and get dressed and shaved. Make the call when the surgery opens at 8am and take it from there. I may take a few notes with me or wing it. We'll see.
I think you should stop worrying yourself into a depression about trying to keep warm in a 3 bedroom house & consider moving into a smaller housing association property.
I don't want to move to another town and I know that you can't always have what you want but where I am is a good area in my town and central to everything. There are few if any smaller properties.
Most(easy for them to say)of those who do know my situation(a cousin, an Uncle and my neighbours)want me to stay put and think I should be allowed to stay put.
And guess what when there is probably more of a demand to downsize guess what my HA is doing?
Building some more properties and they are two, three and four bedrooms. They are not building anything suitable for single people which might free up larger properties already built.
And even in the private sector most properties here are already quite a lot more per month.
And again I saw some private properties advertised today and they are all two, three and four bedroom.
Even a smaller property I would still find too expensive to heat...now today I have no heating on and it is not too bad and my extra clothes and other ideas are working fine...
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