The energy crisis

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

It's the rise in gas that hits us as we cook and heat with gas, our leccy usage is lower than average. Can't see much changing, I can't use induction so will need to keep using gas for cooking and the idea of fans whirring and not having proper heating rules out heat pumps.

Are solar panels a possibility with an electric boiler?

[tweetiepooh]

We have solar panels (getting very nice FIT payments) but combi boiler and no space for tanks. Electric shower for most washing and cold feeds to appliances.

[Jaymoss]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

It's the rise in gas that hits us as we cook and heat with gas, our leccy usage is lower than average. Can't see much changing, I can't use induction so will need to keep using gas for cooking and the idea of fans whirring and not having proper heating rules out heat pumps.

I use little gas so the rise in standing charge hits my gas bill. I use a fair bit of leccy though. Done some provisional maths and my bill will be about £185 a month I have £300 credit and with the £400 going in over 6 months I do not really need to increase my DD from £110 but I am going to raise it to £150 the credit and Gov payment will leave me with a nice balance come Jan for it to cover me till April and then see. I have deliberately built up a balance in preparation for the hard winter

In theory paying £150 a month by April I should still have my £300 balance left and hopefully el gov will do something by then

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If you're on a fixed price deal as I believe most people are...

By now I would think few people are still on a fixed contracts, most have come to an end, and you cant really get new ones.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Paul

By now I would think few people are still on a fixed contracts, most have come to an end, and you cant really get new ones.

Anecdotally, I know 8 people on a fixed contract and one on a variable meter so that's probably influencing my view. But my experiences can't be taken to represent the country and I would be interested to know the actually data.

[Inactive Digital]

Originally Posted by Paul

By now I would think few people are still on a fixed contracts, most have come to an end, and you cant really get new ones.

I managed to fix with British Gas in February until next June. The tariff wasn't on their website or price comparison sites so it might be worth contacting your existing supplier to see what they can offer, though I appreciate it's unlikely to make that much difference at this stage.

[mrmistoffelees]

We managed to fix with Scottish Power in either Jan or Feb this year, fixed for two years with no exit/change fee. still doubled our monthly payment, and that was after having a long conversation with them

[1andrew1]

Solar farm plans refused at highest rate for five years in Great Britain

Exclusive: Projects which would have cut annual electricity bills by £100m turned down

Solar farms are being refused planning permission in Great Britain at the highest rate in five years, analysis has found, with projects which would have cut £100m off annual electricity bills turned down in the past 18 months.

Planning permission for 23 solar farms was refused across England, Wales and Scotland between January 2021 and July 2022, which could have produced enough renewable energy to power an estimated 147,000 homes annually, according to analysis of government figures by the planning and development consultancy Turley.

The refusals have jumped significantly since the start of 2021 – the research found only four projects were refused planning permission during 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 combined.

There are fears such refusals could increase further as the Tory leadership contenders, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, have made disparaging comments about solar farms.

If Truss proceeds with her plans to crack down on solar farms she would be going against the government’s energy security strategy published this spring.

Emma Kelly, an associate director at Turley, said: “Solar should be a key contributor to the energy market, especially as we look to diversify our renewable energy products to ensure maintenance of supply.

“The significant uplift in planning permission refusal for solar farms goes entirely against the proposals laid out in the government’s British energy security strategy. Solar power currently contributes 14GW of energy at present, so we have some way to go before reaching the 70GW target. If Liz Truss goes ahead with her plan, the British energy security strategy will need to be rewritten.

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...-great-britain

Originally Posted by Paul

By now I would think few people are still on a fixed contracts, most have come to an end, and you cant really get new ones.

Yup, that’s what happened to us in June…

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

I went to see my friend yesterday, prior to last week he had a land lord installed coin electric meter in his flat, now he has one of these https://www.topupmeters.co.uk/ installed by his landlord, will he get the £400 pound discount, there are 7 flats with these meters that are satellites of the main meter for the building.

I doubt it.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by pip08456

I doubt it.

That's quite worrying as he's 81 and state pension is his only income

Originally Posted by papa smurf

I went to see my friend yesterday, prior to last week he had a land lord installed coin electric meter in his flat, now he has one of these https://www.topupmeters.co.uk/ installed by his landlord, will he get the £400 pound discount, there are 7 flats with these meters that are satellites of the main meter for the building.

Who pays the bill and has the contract? Sounds like the landlord would be getting it and are meant to pass it on but not legally obliged...

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Damien

Who pays the bill and has the contract? Sounds like the landlord would be getting it and are meant to pass it on but not legally obliged...

It's the landlord but i guess he will only get 1x£400 for the entire property of 7 flats

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

It's the landlord but i guess he will only get 1x£400 for the entire property of 7 flats

Correct, he only pays one bill.

It doesn't sound like he is even covered by the price cap: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ab...-energy-bills/

Some tenants are charged via “sub-meters” where landlords organise energy for the building, often through a business energy supply contract. As the price cap does not apply to these contracts, tenants can see rapid price increases and miss out on support. People with prepay “sub-meters” are especially at risk, as they could be left without energy if they cannot afford to top up