I'm dreading tomorrow. Is it going to be as bad as everyone thinks? What will you stop doing? No pies on the Turf for the kids? A few less pints a week? Walk to work?

Northerners will put another sweater on.Southerners will ?,?

It's recommended you send your supplier a meter reading on the 31st March.

If you haven't got a working Smart meter send your supplier a wrong reading. Give them a higher reading than it really is and that way when they next read the meter you will get billed more on the old rate than on the new rate. You obviously need to be sensible as the meter will have to gone past the false one you provided.

If you know what you are doing you could bump up the read quite a lot and over the next few quarters keep giving false readings that slowly catch up to matching the real reading. Just have to stop them getting access to your meter to read it themselves

I can understand the unit prices going up if it costs the supplier more, but the robbing b*******s are putting the standing charge up as well.
I think it will cost me 250 quid before I even use a unit of either.

Devils_Advocate wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:34 pm

If you haven't got a working Smart meter send your supplier a wrong reading. Give them a higher reading than it really is and that way when they next read the meter you will get billed more on the old rate than on the new rate. You obviously need to be sensible as the meter will have to gone past the false one you provided.

If you know what you are doing you could bump up the read quite a lot and over the next few quarters keep giving false readings that slowly catch up to matching the real reading. Just have to stop them getting access to your meter to read it themselves

Fraud.

Burnleyareback2 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:12 am

Fraud.

Like the Billions casually written off by the Gov'?
Or the PPE contracts... etc etc etc.
Tax Havens where Ministers Bank. Handshake behind doors deals, hidden wealth. Mates Rates For Future Paydays etc etc etc.

etc etc etc.

I'd say do what you can as No Fecker in this Gov' is going to help you in any meaningful way.

Anyone thinking they will probably thinks Gareth Bale will be with us next season on a Free differing all his wages and will also be serving free pre game pies.

So Yes if you can afford to and don't have "smart meters" add a couple of months usage to your readings if you can. Bear it in mind next time you put reading in be aware!.

Effectively most of what you are paying goes abroad anyway to companies they were asset stripped to.

Other Countries can Cap the rises and Do. We chose not to (as we'd effectively be be taxed by the various owners in ... Europe, Australia, America etc ... Oh and Tax Exempt Islands. (have a search - find out).

So to Conclude, if the Tory Cabinet can continually get away with Lies, Fraud, Selling Off Nation Assets, "Miss"-Speaking and Insider Dealing yet we still have to Pay For Their Energy Bills through Expenses Claims (Including a certain Nadhim Zahawi claiming for Horse Stable Heating!!),

I really don't see an issue with posting higher readings if you can and saving a few Quid which is hardly a crime in 2022 is it really?

You "Miss-read the Meter" You "Didn't Understand The Rules", a-erm-ah-a (ruffle hair) "Nobody told Me It Was Wrong" etc etc.

If (however unlikely) the Law comes pounding on your door simply state "I just wanted a Bottle of Wine and some Cheese.

Do It !!!

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:17 am

.............. but the robbing b*******s are putting the standing charge up as well.
I think it will cost me 250 quid before I even use a unit of either.

While quietly selling of quite a lot of Our infrastructure to guess where?
Australia !!!

Huzzah !!!

Follow the Money on this... (i'll keep you guessing...)

I got my estimates in March and my gas is estimated at £2976 and my electric £1992, I rung British gas to ask where they'd got these figures from and in fairness the lad said they were estimates and the correct prices will be sent to me in mid April, he did also say they were very inaccurate, so I asked why send them and cause people worry and stress when they are inaccurate, these companies seem to enjoy scaring people

Could have sworn my costs are fixed, think it was 2 years fixed when I bought the new build in June, guess I’ll find out

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:05 am

Could have sworn my costs are fixed, think it was 2 years fixed when I bought the new build in June, guess I’ll find out

I wouldn't read to much into that my monthly bill for gas and electric worked out around 130 pound a month for both the new bill has gone up by 130 I hoping it doesn't go up anymore .

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:05 am

Could have sworn my costs are fixed, think it was 2 years fixed when I bought the new build in June, guess I’ll find out

Anyone on a fixed contract is not affected by the change to the price cap in April or October. The impact will only hit you when your fix ends. Those on fixes, like me, are likely to see a doubling of their rates if the fix ends between April and October or a tripling if it ends after October. My fix ends in August but possibly moving house and you cannot transfer your current tariff when you move.

It's a real worry, why the hell successive governments have casually given a flying f00k to investing in clean, free renewables, nuclear and domestic gas and oil until green energy can give 100% secure energy is criminal. We have the best scientists, we have nuclear, we are a windy wet tidal island sat on coal and oil in territorial waters yet government ministers of all persuasions bow down and grovel to city investors, bankers, focus groups, minority campaigners etc etc.

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:57 am

It's a real worry, why the hell successive governments have casually given a flying f00k to investing in clean, free renewables, nuclear and domestic gas and oil until green energy can give 100% secure energy is criminal. We have the best scientists, we have nuclear, we are a windy wet tidal island sat on coal and oil in territorial waters yet government ministers of all persuasions bow down and grovel to city investors, bankers, focus groups, minority campaigners etc etc.

It's worse than that really as the cost of getting fossil fuels out of the ground or generating green energy haven't changed that much so the producers are just making windfall profits as a result of the global price hike! A simple way to address this would be a windfall tax and use the proceeds to support consumers.

Eddiebfc wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:03 am

It's worse than that really as the cost of getting fossil fuels out of the ground or generating green energy haven't changed that much so the producers are just making windfall profits as a result of the global price hike! A simple way to address this would be a windfall tax and use the proceeds to support consumers.

Thatcher decimated the mining industry, fracking banned, after all the investment done, so called beauty spots with no wind generators both on and off shore, nuclear ignored but we buy it from France, we haven't got scaling.

Reecey1987 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:21 am

I wouldn't read to much into that my monthly bill for gas and electric worked out around 130 pound a month for both the new bill has gone up by 130 I hoping it doesn't go up anymore .

Not sure why yours has doubled. Have you had a deal come to an end?

Otherwise, £130 should only
Rise to about £200. It's a 56% rise.(approx).

We have been run by idiots, but this time we have the most incompetent and corrupt one of the lot. He even implemented the most freedom restricting laws we ever had, while he and his cronies totally ignored them.

I couldn't go to a much loved relative's funeral due to the restrictions, and months later I find out that on the very same day, he and his mates were partying. I'll never forgive Johnson for this, and I'll vote for any party that does the most damage to him, be it Labour, Lib Dem or even Reform if it means that one of his own MPs doesn't get back at the next GE.

How can a man stop me from going to the funeral of someone who I loved and miss so much, when all the while he couldn't give a toss about the law, the same law which he brought in. He doesn't even respect his own laws or our country. Just look at the way he behaves or the way he dresses. He looks like a slob, but it's all a cultivated act. It's a public schoolboy joke to him and his mates. 'Oh look it's just Boris, har-har-har'. No, it's a tosser who only cares for himself and his cronies!

Sorry for the rant. I just can't stand him or his lies and hypocrisy.

Our payments will change from £73 p/m (cheap fix) to £168 tomorrow.

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:57 am

It's a real worry, why the hell successive governments have casually given a flying f00k to investing in clean, free renewables, nuclear and domestic gas and oil until green energy can give 100% secure energy is criminal.

Because in general the electorate has too!

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:41 am

Not sure why yours has doubled. Have you had a deal come to an end?

Otherwise, £130 should only
Rise to about £200. It's a 56% rise.(approx).

Only recently just purchased the house . We moved in December just gone

Yes lack of a sensible energy policy by governments of different hues over the years has come home to roost. The green eco nuts and the Trendy Green Metros in Westminster and in industry, not to mention that potty Swedish schoolgirl have won.

Granny WeatherWax wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:46 am

Our payments will change from £73 p/m (cheap fix) to £168 tomorrow.

Frightening. There's going to be a lot of trouble

126 to 191

For Eddiebfc & bfcjg

WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE E.U. signed by Our Tory Gov' actively restricting UK more Wind Farms (unless we buy from the Dutch... and give revenue....Oh yeh this was on Johnson's travels under May) yet the Gov' still stated it was UK owned. Not Really Is It?

Bottom line we are being all being humped by Non UK Companies and other Country's Energy Firms... with the double F*ck off of Taxes being Easily Dodged by the Off Shore Banking Scams used.

We (UK) are so Hog Tied by dodgy Energy Deals (Going back to Thatcher and on..) that we are weak in any negotiation. Even more so due to Brexit.
Our Bargaining power or "strength in numbers" has evaporated.

BP and Shell have just walked away taking £ Billions of Profit with practically ZERO UK TAX. Guess what? These deals were made by Companies linked to.... (look it up).

(I Wonder Who Has Heavy Shares in these ?) cough cough tor...tory eh ah erm MP's.... and don't forget the odd Nieces Partner) I could go on.

It Stinks.
We Pay.
F@ck Them.
F@ck Them, for making us even resort to counting our minutes for heating.

Tory boys have a Chat - Let's have a Another Party. (on the very day they did? With Law Breaking Letters Issued. Ignoring the the deaths and the sh@t job they did early o).
£2000 Payrise + Taxpayer payment of the Party + Cabs +Hotels + (ahem some company) + sniff other expenses, + cash to shut the Papers / BBC reporting it.

Put Another Jumper On.

Hipper wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:53 am

Because in general the electorate has too!

Or the electorate have had their gaze diverted to other issues.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:17 am

I can understand the unit prices going up if it costs the supplier more, but the robbing b*******s are putting the standing charge up as well.
I think it will cost me 250 quid before I even use a unit of either.

The main reason the standing charge is increasing so much, is to compensate the fuel companies for the ‘supplier of last resort scheme’, where companies took on customers from collapsed fuel companies.

ICL wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 11:05 am

The main reason the standing charge is increasing so much, is to compensate the fuel companies for the ‘supplier of last resort scheme’, where companies took on customers from collapsed fuel companies.

So, in effect, we are paying for weak legislation and regulation. Those small-to-medium size companies made hay while the sun shined, but now we all have to pay more because of their failure. Can't do anything in this country without being screwed over, while others walk away with fat bank accounts.

Think its about time people started realising that voting for people for reasons they tell you are really important are not as important as stuff you know is really important

Energy, jobs, public transport, NHS - important

Its not hard to work out what people have been voting for the past 12 years, and its not any of the above

Remember, only you and your vote can change stuff

My Octopus deal ends on 29th April i pay £63 per month , £143 in credit on mm last paid bill on March 14th , Been offered a 10 month deal at £193 per month !!!!!

You only consider changing something if the alternatives are better as things stand some people don’t think the alternatives are better, so people saying you should have done this that & the other & we deserve everything we are getting can’t safely say the alternatives would have been better.

Was offered a fixed 2 year deal at just shy of £400 lol. No thanks.

not sure how the energy crisis is the torys fault. Global gas supply/ price issues, and war in Ukraine, hardly anything they can control.

The price cap has kept bills lower than they would have been without it, and they are providing some support beyond this via council tax refunds, and the £200 energy loan.

You can search tax paid, and BP paid $263m in corporate taxes in the UK for 2020, not to mention employee taxes. Would imagine almost everyone has a pension/ investment which invests in BP and gains from their profits.

Not condoning everything either the torys or BP do, both have done awful things, but lets have some balance.

Loyal Supporter wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:58 pm

I'm dreading tomorrow. Is it going to be as bad as everyone thinks? What will you stop doing? No pies on the Turf for the kids? A few less pints a week? Walk to work?

Hi Loyal, great question.

First thing to know is that, despite today's cold winds, we are moving into summer and, wherever you are in the country, the weather will be warmer and the days longer. So, we will not need as much heating and we won't need to lights on as long. So, we've a bit of "breathing space" to look at where we spend our money and what we can do to reduce our bills and get ready for next winter.

If you are on a standard variable rate deal and subject to the cap we all know that the cap is increasing tomorrow. It's recommended to take photos of your meter readings, including the date and time of your photos so that you can prove when they were taken. There's been a lot on social media about providing false readings. Yes, the energy suppliers will be aware of this. It will be very easy for them to pick out the most egregious over-readings, so sounds like a silly thing to do.

I'm on a fixed rate. My fix ends 5th April. I'm defaulting to capped rate. That will be higher than my existing fix, but less than half the best fixed rate I've been offered for the next 12 months. I'll be watching how things develop over the summer. Maybe there will be an opportunity to switch to a new fix or maybe not.

Over the summer I'll be looking at any places around my house I can improve the insulation, block up drafts etc. I'll also make sure my boiler is serviced so that it runs as efficiently as possible (last summer it kept coming on when it wasn't supposed to do - a faulty valve). I've already switched all my lights to LEDs. I expect I'll also be wearing an extra layer of clothing or two.

pompeyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:13 pm

not sure how the energy crisis is the torys fault. Global gas supply/ price issues, and war in Ukraine, hardly anything they can control.

The price cap has kept bills lower than they would have been without it, and they are providing some support beyond this via council tax refunds, and the £200 energy loan.

You can search tax paid, and BP paid $263m in corporate taxes in the UK for 2020, not to mention employee taxes. Would imagine almost everyone has a pension/ investment which invests in BP and gains from their profits.

Not condoning everything either the torys or BP do, both have done awful things, but lets have some balance.

Its successive governments fault. Pandering to minority groups again. Lack of understanding of extracting our own energy reserves has added to our abject energy policy failure. Read below. PW will have to wear more clothes. Its an effing disaster all of our own making. I'll never vote for a politician again.

pompeyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:13 pm

not sure how the energy crisis is the torys fault. Global gas supply/ price issues, and war in Ukraine, hardly anything they can control.

The price cap has kept bills lower than they would have been without it, and they are providing some support beyond this via council tax refunds, and the £200 energy loan.

You can search tax paid, and BP paid $263m in corporate taxes in the UK for 2020, not to mention employee taxes. Would imagine almost everyone has a pension/ investment which invests in BP and gains from their profits.

Not condoning everything either the torys or BP do, both have done awful things, but lets have some balance.

Given some of the posters warped opinions on brexit I’m absolutely amazed that’s not featured in playing some sort of responsibility with the price hikes.

pompeyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:13 pm

not sure how the energy crisis is the torys fault. Global gas supply/ price issues, and war in Ukraine, hardly anything they can control.

The price cap has kept bills lower than they would have been without it, and they are providing some support beyond this via council tax refunds, and the £200 energy loan.

You can search tax paid, and BP paid $263m in corporate taxes in the UK for 2020, not to mention employee taxes. Would imagine almost everyone has a pension/ investment which invests in BP and gains from their profits.

Not condoning everything either the torys or BP do, both have done awful things, but lets have some balance.

There is clearly nothing that they can do about the global price hike, in the same way that the last global recession was not the fault of the last Labour Govt, however what they do to mitigate it is their responsibility.

If you think their response is adequate then good for you. A windfall tax on fossil fuel companies and energy generators (including green ones) who are benefiting from the price hike would help to mitigate it but they have chosen not to do this.

Can we please ensure there is no further political references on this thread. Otherwise it will be removed.

My village doesn't have mains gas, so I run my central heating on oil, and the price of that has doubled since January.

Presume consumers in France/Germany etc will see their bills going up to the same amount?

It really is going to be horrendous for a lot of people for the foreseeable.

We moved into a house with one of those air source heat pumps. Being touted as the future. I'm sure they'll play a part in it, but if you have an old, stone house.. DON'T be swayed into getting one. They're absolutely no use when it's cold and horrendously expensive. If you've got a new build, well insulated, underfloor heating they're no doubt great.

Anyway, we ended up having to replace it with a gas boiler. A backward step and I know it's killing the planet but it's no good being freezing in your own home and paying thousands for the privilege. Just really hope that hydrogen boilers do end up being a practical solution. I can just about handle the expense if it means we're 'green' but being cold is no fun.

Paul Waine wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:18 pm

Hi Loyal, great question.

First thing to know is that, despite today's cold winds, we are moving into summer and, wherever you are in the country, the weather will be warmer and the days longer. So, we will not need as much heating and we won't need to lights on as long. So, we've a bit of "breathing space" to look at where we spend our money and what we can do to reduce our bills and get ready for next winter.

If you are on a standard variable rate deal and subject to the cap we all know that the cap is increasing tomorrow. It's recommended to take photos of your meter readings, including the date and time of your photos so that you can prove when they were taken. There's been a lot on social media about providing false readings. Yes, the energy suppliers will be aware of this. It will be very easy for them to pick out the most egregious over-readings, so sounds like a silly thing to do.

I'm on a fixed rate. My fix ends 5th April. I'm defaulting to capped rate. That will be higher than my existing fix, but less than half the best fixed rate I've been offered for the next 12 months. I'll be watching how things develop over the summer. Maybe there will be an opportunity to switch to a new fix or maybe not.

Over the summer I'll be looking at any places around my house I can improve the insulation, block up drafts etc. I'll also make sure my boiler is serviced so that it runs as efficiently as possible (last summer it kept coming on when it wasn't supposed to do - a faulty valve). I've already switched all my lights to LEDs. I expect I'll also be wearing an extra layer of clothing or two.

Some excellent advice. Thank you!

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 2:13 pm

Presume consumers in France/Germany etc will see their bills going up to the same amount?

It really is going to be horrendous for a lot of people for the foreseeable.

Germany and Austria are starting to implement the mechanisms to ration gas.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60925016

On the understanding that it is cheaper to heat a person than a whole house, I have a heated throw that I use in winter. Not sure a family could make this work but for us singletons I think its a great idea.

The answer is very close to home "Trough of Bowland" to be precise. Sits on a lot of gas that can be extracted by fracking. It could produce enough to go a long way to making this country energy self-sufficient. What's not to like? I couldn't get my head around why the govt allowed pressure groups to put a spanner in the works to stop it going ahead. We're all paying the very high price for that decision now and where are we relying on to supply our gas?

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:41 pm

The answer is very close to home "Trough of Bowland" to be precise. Sits on a lot of gas that can be extracted by fracking. It could produce enough to go a long way to making this country energy self-sufficient. What's not to like? I couldn't get my head around why the govt allowed pressure groups to put a spanner in the works to stop it going ahead. We're all paying the very high price for that decision now and where are we relying on to supply our gas?

On any sort of decision basis is the high price worth the consequences of negative environmental effects that the scientists predicted that could happen, I’m not completed opposed despite residing in west lancashire partially but more research need to be carried out first, forewarned is forearmed we don’t know enough yet about fracking potentially long term.

Last summer I received an e-mail from EDF saying my DD would go from £60 a month to £1,700 a month, a swift e-mail got that sorted but I was owing them money so increased it to £100 a month.

This morning received the e-mail confirming I shall now be going to £267 per month.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:41 pm

The answer is very close to home "Trough of Bowland" to be precise. Sits on a lot of gas that can be extracted by fracking. It could produce enough to go a long way to making this country energy self-sufficient. What's not to like? I couldn't get my head around why the govt allowed pressure groups to put a spanner in the works to stop it going ahead. We're all paying the very high price for that decision now and where are we relying on to supply our gas?

Fracking?

In the Trough of Bowland?

Oh aye, yeah, what on earth could possibly be wrong with that?

I shouldn’t worry too much we’ll all be bankrupt in 5 years and having a house to heat will be a distant memory.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:54 pm

Last summer I received an e-mail from EDF saying my DD would go from £60 a month to £1,700 a month, a swift e-mail got that sorted but I was owing them money so increased it to £100 a month.

This morning received the e-mail confirming I shall now be going to £267 per month.

With EDF, you can ask to go on variable DD, where you only pay for what you use each month, stops them cash piling all your money.

My energy supplier refused to accept my meter readings today.
In the past we were advised to shop around. Even
Money Saving guru - Martin Lewis has run out of advice.
Good luck everyone!