Re: The energy crisis
 

Who gets what?

Energy Bills Support Scheme doubled to a one-off £400:

Households will get £400 of support with their energy bills through an expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
As well as doubling the £200 of support announced earlier this year, the full £400 payment will now be made as a grant, which will not be recovered through higher bills in future years.
Energy suppliers will deliver this support to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
This support will apply directly for households in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is GB-wide and we will deliver equivalent support to people in Northern Ireland.

£650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means tested benefits:

More than 8 million households on means tested benefits will receive a payment of £650 this year, made in two instalments. This includes all households receiving the following benefits:Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Pension Credit
DWP will make the payment in two lump sums – the first from July, the second in the autumn. Payments from HMRC for those on tax credits only will follow shortly after each to avoid duplicate payments.

One-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to.
So pensioner households will receive an extra £300 this year to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter.
This additional one-off payment will go to the over 8 million pensioner households across the UK who receive the Winter Fuel Payment and will be paid on top of any other one-off support a pensioner household is entitled to, for example where they are on pension credit or receive disability benefits. Eligible households currently receive between £200 - £300, so the payment will represent at least double the support for this winter.
The Winter Fuel Payment (including the extra Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits.
All pensioner households will get the one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November/December. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit.
People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 – 25 September 2022. There are certain circumstances where an individual above State Pension age does not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment which can be found here on gov.uk [https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility]

£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

Around six million people across the UK who receive the following disability benefits will receive a one-off payment of £150 in September:
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Scottish Disability Benefits
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Constant Attendance Allowance
War Pension Mobility Supplement
For the many disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits, this £150 will come on top of the £650 they will receive separately.

£500m increase and extension of Household Support Fund

To support people who need additional help, the Government is providing an extra £500 million of local support, via the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from this October to March 2023.
The Household Support Fund helps those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills.
The government will issue additional guidance to Local Authorities to ensure support is targeted towards those most in need of support, including those not eligible for the Cost of Living Payments set out on 26 May 2022

Re: Energy companies collapse
 

Fair comment, BUT I think emergency could be seen by some however to be stretching it a bit......there's been considerable time to review the possibilities. I'm over simplifying, but HMRC could just say right, here's a list of everyone earning over 100k per year... right then, no dosh for you...

---------- Post added at 13:32 ---------- Previous post was at 13:26 ----------

Thanks for the detailed info.

The one thing i can spot there is that the £400 in monetary value is equal to all, how far it will go dependant on fixed price vs variable vs pre pay.

Would be interesting to what % of those on prepay also receive additional support.

most pensioners will now receive a minimum of approx £1k towards their fuel costs this winter?

Re: Energy companies collapse
 

Apparently you can give it back to el gov HERE :erm:

I wonder how many times that's been used. :scratch:

Re: The energy crisis
 

I've just checked the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.

It only applies to those who were born on or before 26 September 1955.

Re: Energy companies collapse
 

'Donations in general towards public expenditure
If you wish to make a voluntary payment to HM Government you may arrange a direct bank transfer to HM Treasury. Please be advised that gifts cannot be ring-fenced for a specific purpose or assigned to a specific area of public spending.'

Re: Energy companies collapse
 

A better place would be National Energy Action A charity that works directly with those in energy crisis.

Re: Energy companies collapse
 

Here's one and there's probably more.

https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis/sta...92659681947649

Also.

Re: The energy crisis
 

DLA up to age 16 until they get the kinks out of PIP and are therefore able to deny more people what they should get. :td:

I fail to qualify for the Welsh Arsembly £500 payment for Carers by ONE MONTH.

I miss out on the Pensioner Winter Fuel Payment (and therefore the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) by 5 months.

:dozey::dozey::dozey::dozey:

Re: The energy crisis
 

wounded
In reality I should be eligible for PIP but I just can not cope with the stress of the assessment so I do not claim. I am already stressed about my ESA one that I have not even heard about yet but knowing chances are I will need one in the next 2 years causes me anxiety already.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Is there no fund you can apply to for special cases, sucks powerfully :(

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes there is, Hero_yuy linked to it earlier.

National Energy Action.

Re: The energy crisis
 

People have been posting about asking for aid from the discretionary funds and being flatly refused.

The payments are means tested already, including any benefits, pensions, state pension, savings, etc.

With these direct payments from Mr Sunak, that may get worse as they could be classed as "income".

The entire "household income" is counted, even that of non-dependants living with you.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Sunak has been clear that the direct payments will not be classed as income.

Re: The energy crisis
 

In your profile you say you are 66 so according to THIS you must qualify for winter fuel payments. ;)

The information on the .gov site is for Winter 21-22. :)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Thats only the reason in your special little world. ;)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Well, I must be flattered as that suggests Sunak's recent address is intended for me and me alone! :D

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-...eport-12593360

Re: The energy crisis
 

Tesco sandwich n juice gate wasn't exactly what it was hyped up to be.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I was given that age uk link by a neighbour who works for for them, and it said "September 1955" when I looked last week!

I've just checked https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payme...l%20Payment%27. and it says just that. :confused:

Ah I get it now, they haven't updated the info since the claim date for 21-22 had passed. And it looks like I'll get it automatically with no application required.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Glad you look like you're going to get it as that's the exact amount I was going to ask you to lend me!!

Re: The energy crisis
 

I think the 1955 date is based on last Septembers calculations not this coming Sept. it's all a bit foggy.

I officially become a pensioner in june even though i retired in 2017

Re: The energy crisis
 

Looks like we've missed the bus on this. Or is it a negotiating ploy by EDF?
https://www.ft.com/content/971e3722-...2-aa59920454fd

Re: The energy crisis
 

Time to stop charging all those electric cars ........

Re: The energy crisis
 

They'll be switching off all those smart meters this winter only those on analogue will get electricity;)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Many seem to do it via solar panels so they're fine and dandy whilst the rest of us are paying through the nozzle.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I am still waiting on mine, all these ruddy chip shortages

Re: The energy crisis
 

Was thinking about getting one until I listen to sliced bread . Need a big price reduction to justify buying one , I would never meet the milage required to save on carbon footprint :dozey:

Re: The energy crisis
 

I am leasing it through work, Fuel it and Go as everything else is included :)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Interesting analysis on fuel prices. £$ exchange rate.
https://twitter.com/Simon_Nixon/stat...15189590589446

Re: The energy crisis
 

Misleading figures, of course. The $2 was a peak figure in 2008. By the end of 2008, it was less than $1.50.
The cost of petrol includes a lot more than simply the cost of the oil.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Simon Nixon is a muppet.

The pound has rarely been worth $2 in the last 40 years, and its falling/rising value over time had nothing to do with Brexit - indeed, it fell to $1.40 in Jan 2009.

Re: The energy crisis
 

But that means nothing to those here that bottom trawl the net for bad news that they can falsely blame on Brexit.:rolleyes:

Re: The energy crisis
 

You have to be a bit of a muppet to believe Brexit is not a significant contributor to the collapse of the Pound since 2016. Here's some background on this:

https://www.economicsobservatory.com...ue-of-sterling

Re: The energy crisis
 

Conveniently forgets that the markets tend to act in a particular direction, if they can be persuaded that other are going to act the same way. So when certain quarters were saying that with a leave vote, that the pound would go down, they had to sell before others did. That pre-emptive selling drives the price down, rather than any actual real reason.
EG On Black Wednesday, the German Bundesbank and the BBC:mad: were going around saying there was going to be a devaluation of the £. As such the traders were forced into selling sterling which drove the price down. By then buying sterling back after it had died down, they made a profit.
Theoretical example, you have £100m, the rate is 3DM/£. you sell the £100m giving DM300m. The price drops to 2.5DM/£ and you buy sterling, giving £120m, £20m profit.
Similarly with shares, if enough people can be persuaded that the shares of a company will rise, they will buy the shares hoping to make an easy profit by then selling them. That will drive the price up, artificially making it look like they were right. A self-fulfilling prophecy.

Still nothing whatsoever to do with a drop from $2 to $1.40.

March 2016 $1.4248, May 2021 $1.4065. Selected rates but, not a huge difference,

Re: The energy crisis
 

.. and also one to think thats what was said.
There was no "brexit" in 2008/2009, when the £ dropped 30%+.
Fuel didnt rise becasue of this 30% drop either, in fact petrol prices dropped.

Re: The energy crisis
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61860717

Someone should remind Ofgem that that is how DD works. You pay the same every month, either gradually paying-off a debt caused by high use over winter, or you build up a credit to be able to clear the upcoming winter bills.

My former provider called me and asked if I wanted a growing credit to be refunded, and the caller was obviously surprised when I explained why I did not.

Re: The energy crisis
 

That’s how it’s supposed to work but it frequently doesn’t. If your usage and payments are in balance then you will have a modest debit balance in the winter as well as a modest credit balance in summer. But all too often in recent years the energy companies will use any level of debit in winter as “proof” that your payments are inadequate and unilaterally increase your direct debit. By late the following summer you then end up in excessive credit and not all the suppliers are proactive in issuing refunds.

Bulb have been especially bad at this over the last couple of years. More than once they have increased my DD even when we’ve been heading into summer with a credit balance because their projections supposedly show I’m not paying enough. I have manually adjusted the amount down via my online portal several times and had to phone to get a substantial refund on one occasion.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Bulbs billing cycle is something quite bizarre. Before Christmas they wanted to reduce our monthly total to £38 per month and set it accordingly. In reality, we were hitting about £80-90 actual usage but we had built up a large credit, but I said no way, bumped monthly amount back up to where it was.

Re: The energy crisis
 

The problem is that not all providers do/did that, leaving some customers with many hundreds of pounds in credit when their suppliers went bust. Avro never reviewed direct debits in my experience. When I renewed my tariff and asked for some of my credit balance to be refunded they refused and instead offered to reduce my future payments by £10 per month. But this was a result of me phoning them and asking, not them proactively reviewing my account.

Re: The energy crisis
 

In theory, but they have been cheating it in recent years.
Working out your payments based on the full year being like winter, and building up large balances, exactly like a free load (from us).

Re: The energy crisis
 

Thought they had increased my DD too much, but adding up the past years
usage and using the new higher rates, it's not too far off. I will be building up
a large credit before winter sets in, which is annoying, but it should even out.
Makes it easier to budget with a known fixed amount. Too many people lack
the ability to cope with quarterly or half-yearly(eg water) bills

Re: The energy crisis
 

I got a call from EDF saying I need to up my monthly DD to £184 a month. At the moment I'm paying £116 a month. I asked for a statement with an up to date meter reading and I was £111 in credit. So something isn't right obviously.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Have you done what I did, and used the past years usage with the new rates? If financially you can cope with a variable DD(ie just paying the full amount you owe at the time of the bill), then try and change to that.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Are they legally allowed to set a DD amount that they decide, without your agreement? Just wondering ..

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes, they just have to tell you in advance. You agree to this as part of signing up to pay them via DD.

Re: The energy crisis
 

And you have the right to cancel your direct debit, or if in credit demand it be paid back. In fact you can your bank to a reverse a DD if you think its incorrect.

Re: The energy crisis
 

With EDF it's set DD monthly with a bill every 6 months. So will be submitting a meter reading just for an up to date statement every 3 months to make sure everything is on track so no nasty surprises at the end of the 6 monthly period.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Fortunately our electricity and gas usage is low enough to be able to pay quarterly. Of recent months we've been bearing down on any "vampire" appliances and saving where possible: Washing machine at 30C, only boiling just enough in the kettle, media server is only on when actually being used or building ratio, electric heating only where absolutely necessary, etc.

We have two freezers at the moment so I'm running down the contents of the upright one as it's the least efficient so it can be turned off.

This electricity quarter is actually £80 less than the last even though the cost per unit and standing charge has gone up significantly.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Our electricity usage was pretty good until a smart meter caused a 40% jump and we still don't know why (maybe the old meter was reading low?).


But, on point, DD is just the mechanism, we pay by variable DD. When we did pay by fixed rate DD we alway accumulated credit, even over winter which shows how bad some of the estimates can be. Maybe they were hoping that by "over charging" they would encourage us to use more.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I timed my DD start so that I was always in debit until the end of the year. But the forced move to Scottish Power ruined that, so I have already built up a small credit level. The next hike in the Price Cap will wipe that out. :(

---------- Post added at 10:19 ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 ----------

I wonder if the Cost Of Living payments, which will be credited to our power company balances, has been taken into account?

2 neighbours said that they were looking forward to the "handouts" so that they could fly off for a holiday in the sun. When I told them they won't see any cash in their bank accounts, they were really miffed.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Not too sure but if they pay by DD then they could build up enough credit that'll be refunded back into their bank accounts.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Are you sure?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

Re: The energy crisis
 

Price cap increase in Oct now projected to be 52%

Re: The energy crisis
 

Some are telling people to cancel Direct Debit and create a Standing Order, that way you control the amount and NOT them.

Re: The energy crisis
 

That way you also rip yourself off by getting charged more

Re: The energy crisis
 

But then they will hassle you, when your account is not in credit. If you're prepared to make one-one payments to settle the the debt, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Re: The energy crisis
 

The price cap for non monthly direct debit payers is £130 a year higher

Re: The energy crisis
 

:Yikes:

Re: The energy crisis
 

tell me about it

Re: The energy crisis
 

Our last electricity quarter just gone was £90 less than the previous one at £303 despite the price increases but only because I've been trying to save electricity wherever possible.

There's virtually nothing left to turn off except for the second freezer that has the overflow from the chest freezer. Unfortunately it's an upright model and quite old and thirsty. Something like 300W when running. I'll be looking to run down the contents and to turn it off ASAP.

It's not so bad for two adults as you can always put on more layers in Winter and sit under a throw to watch the TV but for a family with kids that expect a warm house and endless baths/showers this is going to be tough.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I am the same as you. Cut right down. I can not save anymore. I was going to try and survive the summer without fans but I have failed that already haha. Worked it all out and will cost me about £15 over the summer for fans alone

Re: The energy crisis
 

I'm going to group some of the tech things in the lounge: TV, DVD HDD, Modulator, antenna amplifiers/splitters and put them on a second power strip that will only be on when I'm actually using them. Probably only amounts to 10Watts in standby but every little helps as they say.

The DVD HDD recorder/player doesn't have any standby lights on it but the on/off buttons are very small so I bet it's not fully off when not active.

Re: The energy crisis
 

My TV and FreeSat box are on smart plugs so remain off until needed. My TV is quite power hungry even is standby so that saved a few watts. I have stopped using plug in air fresheners. My PC is the single biggest drain not including white goods. With the 2 screens it runs about 120 watts general use and about 300 when gaming. It is my entertainment hub so I am not going to cut back on that although I have thought about using a laptop and one screen for general computing but I just do not want to hahaha

I am prepared to stop paying the TV Licence as I hardly ever watch live tv and could easily just watch on demand but will only do that if things get really bad next year.

This year el gov is pretty much bailing me out but if it continues to rise it could get quiet hairy next year. Still I have lived on beans on toast before so can again hahaha

Re: The energy crisis
 

Has anyone applied for help from the Household Support Fund? I know a few people from my area that have, and they've received £200 towards their energy bills, £200 shopping vouchers to spend at a selected store such as Asda, Tesco, M&S, Aldi, or Morrisons etc. A few of them also received household items like a new washing machine, carpets, cooker and beds.

You have to be in receipt of certain benefits, but it's pretty easy to apply for, just search your local council website for "Household Support Fund". Enter post code here to find yours...

https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

A decision was made within a week of applying and they had the energy credit and food vouchers within 2 weeks. The household items can take a few weeks more to be delivered.

Got to be worth a try.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Very helpful post.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I've bought a second hand laptop and hooked it up to the TV, I only use my PC for gaming now, I seem to have saved quite a bit. I used to have the PC on all the time I was in the house, even when watching iPlayer/Prime etc, now it gathers dust most of the time.

Re: The energy crisis
 

excellent

Re: The energy crisis
 

The power and fuel costs are now feeding through in very obvious shop price hikes. Several items' I regularly buy have gone up between 9% and 14%, and some have suffered shrinkflation around 20%.

I managed to pick up a 5kg of dry penne pasta for £1/kg, whilst the store's own brand stuff starts at £1.70/kg.

The bulk sacks of rice in the ethnic aisles has now caught up with the own-brand small packs per kg.

Our gas and leccy consumption is now at its lowest average level for many years (before the twins got older and started gaming online). The mild winter certainly helped.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Maybe the thread title should be changed to cover the general increase in all prices, because as Taf says it's now starting to impact everydayness not just fuel bills.

Re: The energy crisis
 

We are doomed captain, doomed.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Why not make a cost of living crisis thread that does not include energy. When I created this thread it was to keep people informed about the price cap. I keep an eye on the projections through moneysavingexpert and keep this post up to date. If it covered everything then the information and relative advice would get swallowed up with the price of breads just gone up

Re: The energy crisis
 

It’s not a “cost of living” crisis. It’s an “inflation” crisis.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Because then there'd be two threads that would swallow up each other and overlap beyond belief. I think the Future of TV thread started life as a couple of separate threads and that didn't end well. Anyway, it's not my call if the thread gets renamed but you can see from Tafs post the way it's going to go.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Not mine either

---------- Post added at 21:54 ---------- Previous post was at 21:53 ----------

high "inflation" makes "cost of living" a crisis

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes but framing it this way deflects from the issue.


Cost of living crisis…….answer, give people free money handouts, Rise wages


Inflation crisis……answer…….not the above.

Re: The energy crisis
 

It's essentially a high profits crisis. If profits were more controlled any wage rises wouldn't create the inflationary spiral to such an extent.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

Price cap is now expected to see a rise of 65% now. Hard not to swear

Re: The energy crisis
 

These companies are taking the piss

Re: The energy crisis
 

How? They're not the ones setting the costs. They are just passing on the costs that they incur and can't avoid.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Those who drill the oil and gas are the ones taking the mick. Profiteering on the back of a global crisis. High demand means they can charge what they want and by golly they are doing exactly that

We should frack in this country and stuff the do gooders

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

And denting the bank account.

Re: The energy crisis
 

One thing is for sure I will not be using my heating again this winter no matter how cold it gets

Re: The energy crisis
 

This greed will kill people this winter.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I don't understand how a unit of electricity from a UK based wind turbine can cost so much more than it did from the same turbine a couple of years ago.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Because the price is regulated and ultimately tied to the price of electricity produced by burning gas. It was supposed to provide an element of certainty while the industry was in its infancy, but now it’s just turning turbines into cash cows. There is some half-hearted sentiment in government towards reforming it, but seeing as the government is eating itself from the tail upwards at the moment I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Well i can tell you the price of wind whistling down the Humber has gone up 70% and have you seen the price of a photon at the solar farms.

Re: The energy crisis
 

They DON'T set the prices. The buyers do in a sort of auction process.
You've highlighted the biggest source of extra costs, and higher gas prices, and that is the Green fascists. Eg The start of this was in a major part created by Germany's policy of switching off nuclear and coal, and trying(and failing) to rely on wind power instead.

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:38 ----------

They publish the figures, and even put them on your bill.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I'd be surprised from your posting history if you agreed with the politics of parties trying to look after the environment, but Green fascists? Really?? A bit strong when you look at the history of fascism.

Re: The energy crisis
 

So how else would you describe them and their behaviour, Terrorist? Bullying? Lying? They forced false reliance on renewables and heat pumps, got fracking banned, forced closures of nuclear plants, all leading to......
Several millennia ago, much of northern North America, including Manhattan Island, were covered in several feet of ice. Also Devon Island, inside the arctic circle, had grass growing, but is now covered in ice and is inhabitable. The biggest source of glacier melt there is geothermal heating.
How can that be?
Just look around you. How would the world manage without plastics and the oil they come from?

Re: The energy crisis
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62330190

Re: The energy crisis
 

I hate capitalism and the open market. Share holders get their butts kissed while the customers get their butts......

Re: The energy crisis
 

So much for shareholders doing well,

Lucky for us there is an open market.
Link
How else do you decide who gets the energy? Draw straws?:rolleyes:

Re: The energy crisis
 

I agree with Jaymoss, we should have a separate cost of living crisis thread. There are many disparate factors playing into the inability to afford essential things, not just energy. Maybe the mods can add their thoughts here?

I don't mind creating a new thread for the broader discussion ...

Re: The energy crisis
 

Here :)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yep, it already exists.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Thanks!

Re: The energy crisis
 

You're welcome. :)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Thanks! :)

Re: The energy crisis
 

An unforeseen benefit of Brexit.
Link
And that's just a levy, not usage costs.