Energy prices are to rise again, whats your thoughts?

Question

I have read reports that UK Gas & Electricity prices will be hiked up by an average 25% this summer / autumn, the second massive increase this year, when will this stop, my household bills are rising so fast that they are starting to affect my standard of living, I hate having to tell my kids no I cant afford that, whats the answer to all of this ?

Answer 1

stop these greedy companies and their so greedy share holders, its getting seiously worrying, especially those on fixed incomes like the elderly.

Answer 2

I totally agree with the hauliers - fuel prices are causing a cascade effect on all other prices - this is directly caused by all the stealth taxes on everything.

Answer 3

My electricity through the winter costs me about 13 pounds a week, and a few pounds less in the summer.

I have low energy bulbs throughout but I use a tumble dryer quite a bit, also the cooker gets a hammering more in winter.

I have a coal fire costing about 500 pounds a year, but no central heating boiler.

We all have to learn to economise and it is not easy with prices for everything about to soar because of the increase in fuel prices.

If it is a choice between going out or keeping warm, I know which one I will choose.

Answer 4

Maybe you should teach your kids about not making life a pursuit of commodities, and the value of using what resources they have. They won't always have the advantages you've granted them and it could be an important lesson. Hope you aren't one of these parents who gets mortally offended when someone offers you advice but, considering you probably the fact that you'll probably come out of this in a few years okay financially, this could be a priority.

It sounds stupid but everyone just needs to use less energy. No lights on unless you're walking through or already in. Quick showers, everyone uses the kettle at the same time, everyone has dinner at the same time - heat eats indiscriminantly and heavily. PC goes off if no one's on. No flushing the toilet unless it's a number two. I admit I am having trouble persuading my housemates to adhere to these rules, especially the last one. But importantly, these aren't indices of quality of life, they're just things people push and take for granted when we're doing alright.

I'm a firm believer that the one thing people value over prosperity is security. If you continue to adopt a leaner lifestyle, you can create a surplus for yourself and not run in to these problems again. No one talks about how great their life is because they have high energy bulbs that are on all the time. Learn the value of thrift too - might be illuminating as to how in large franchises the exchange value differs greatly from use value.

Answer 5

The answer is to burn less fossil fuels and use more solar energy.

Answer 6

I was on that treadmill too. Now I live in Australia, where I have solar hot water and no gas (we don't have central heating of course). My only household energy cost now is for electricity for lights and cooking (my home has four bedrooms), which costs me about $70 a month (£30). Sorry, I know that doesn't help you in the least, but the contrast really showed me how much I was getting ripped off in Britain. I was paying £30 a month each for gas and electricity when I left the country two years ago, and I bet it's gone up since then.

Sadly this is what happens when you privatise a company that should be a public utility - the same applies to transport companies. Their first duty, instead of to the public, is to their shareholders and the shareholders expect them to make more and more profits, otherwise they sell their shares and the company collapses.

Answer 7

Disgusting!...And we really can't do anything about it. The super-powers rule.