What are your thoughts on the rising cost of energy and gas

Question

Companies like British Gas are always going on about how energy and oil prices are so expensive for them now, hence why they raise our bills, but at the end of the year they so proudly announce millions of pounds of profits, how are they aloud to do this?

Answer 1

The answer has to do with the tipping-point.

I have tried for 4 years to start a company producing renewable fuels for the north of Scotland. The Plant will be profitable - use waste materials, and provide fuel to many thousands of homes.

The problem is - nobody want's to switch because it's a hassle, and using gas is soooo much easier. Therefore there is no demand for clean renewable solid fuel technologies.

I could make the stuff by the tonne each day - but there is no market. - yet.

If prices continue to rise (and they will ) - thre will be a tipping point where renewable sources will take over. Gas prices will fall to compete - and their profits wither. After that, investors will pull out and their Ivory tower will crumble.

What may happen then is they will shift focus onto buying vast tracts of land instead and investing in renewables .

Hopefully individuals will be producing more themselves too.

Answer 2

We need to become less dependent on oil and gas.  We are very dependent on electricity.  We have taken it for granted for too long and as the price goes up we will have to economise which will be good for the environment.  The government will no doubt find a way to take money from British Gas because we will not be able to afford the taxes to support all the bureaucrats in this country.

Answer 3

It is called AGW or how to steal billions of dollars from the people to enhance your profits, finance friendly political candidates and buy up other companies (conglomerate) to provide your family with financial and political power long after coal and oil resources are used up. It is all pert of their dream of a brave new world where they are the government and everybody else works for them at what they are willing to pay or provide.

Answer 4

I know the idea of a business is to make a profit, but I think some of them are going too far.

To a certain extent the consumer can 'vote with their feet' (or the switch) and cut consumption, but that is more likely to send prices up to maintain the companies' unjustly high profits, rather than them take a cut.

Such greed is likely to end in a downfall.

In the meantime we can only hope that there is some serious investment in wind, solar and sea power before it's too late.

Answer 5

this should not be allowed yet again ripe of britian

Answer 6

The speculators win and we the long suffering public get ripped of again  

Answer 7

I wonder if we are all fighting a losing battle.  The less fuel there is the higher the cost, the less we, the end consumer, use the cost goes up further.

Answer 8

Yes my father is unhappy with the price always increasing.The petrol is hard to find thats why. The goverment needs more money to dig.In Malaysia the Petronas is about 2.30 RM 1 Litre.

Answer 9

Legalised extortion, nothing less. Taking the whatsit out of us and blaming something else. Its the EU that are responsible, they have fixed the cost of gas/electricity to track the cost of oil. Now they are waiting to see how long they can get away with it for.

Answer 10

We're beginning to think that our solar panels might actually pay for themselves in our lifetimes.

We had doubts when we first had them installed (even though they have proved to be so effective for our water heating) but with the way fuel prices are increasing it looks as though we could be in pocket  

Answer 11

Oldest trick in the business world.Encourage you to use less, then hike prices up to protect the shareholders dividends.  

Answer 12

Painful as it is, it seems the only way that has woken us up to fuel efficiency!!

We must turn to more renewables

Answer 13

busisness has to make money...pleeeese don't think the government can do better...people working for gain work better than civil servents who don't car if the job gets done or how long it takes...i just can't think of the motor vehical people drilling for oil/gas

Answer 14

wear clothes around the house,

close windows

up-grade your insulation,

use energy saving light-bulbs,

consider a wood-burner

etc etc.

vote with your feet and use/buy less energy. You can survive without it and they won't profit.