gas and electric - Page 3

polly · 19-06-2008, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekgas

As said in a previous post, energy bills went up 70% last year, and forecast another 30% this year, up until now I have had issues with renewable energy sources because it took so long to reap the rewards, but as by this time next year, the savings will be 100% more than last year, it is becoming a very viable option, we are (after years of suppliers pushing renewable energy) now training people at work in renewable enrgy installation, I guarantee that some people here will have at least had to consider renewable sources by 2010, one of the biggest sellers in the heating market at the moment is multifuel stoves, I think this is just the start.

What is a multifuel stove?

How can normal, non technically minded consumers get info on alternative forms of heating?

jaysay · 19-06-2008, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

It's a rip off.. someone is making a lot of money out of power and food price increases.. they never had these problems in the old Soviet Union.. communism is the only way to beat these capitalist demons!

If that is what you think Mancie I suggest you see a film called Mrs Rawcliffes revenge, you'll find it very enlightening

Debbie J · 19-06-2008, 10:31

Its ridiculous. I could barely afford to keep warm this winter gone, so will probably freeze this winter!

jambutty · 19-06-2008, 16:33

The worst of all this is that the people most likely to struggle are the less well off.

Many do not know how to or cannot be bothered to budget for a quarterly bill or Direct Debit so they have card meters. Guess which is the most expensive tariff? Surprise, surprise it is card meters.

However on the bright side the energy companies have been asked, asked mind you not told, to try and get people off card meters and onto cheaper tariffs.

I know a few people who use card meters and not one has had any communication from their energy company to suggest a cheaper tariff.

I guess we are going back 50 years or more when central heating was just a dream for most people and the only form of heating they had was one coal fire in the living room that also heated the water. Posh people had a gas fire and one in the front room as well and maybe even in the bedrooms.

Winters were colder than they are these days with ice on the INSIDE of bedroom windows. But we survived and we learned to undress for bed in double quick time before diving into a cold bed. It was the same getting up in the morning. No lingering.

My energy bill (gas and electric) for the quarter up to June last year was £110 for a one bedroom ground floor flat. Just five radiators, one each in the living room, bedroom, lobby, washroom and kitchen, which is always turned off.

With the pending increases last year I did some economising and my energy bill for the same period this year was £143.

Ah well! I’m lucky. I have a recliner arm chair so with an extra jumper on, a blanket around my legs and the recliner lifting my feet off the deck, I will survive next winter. Maybe I could warm my frozen hands over a candle.

emamum · 19-06-2008, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

Many do not know how to or cannot be bothered to budget for a quarterly bill or Direct Debit so they have card meters. Guess which is the most expensive tariff? Surprise, surprise it is card meters.
.

thats not a fair statement...many houses already have prepayment meters and they dont like taking them out once they are their..

Sometimes you dont get a choice

jambutty · 19-06-2008, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum23

thats not a fair statement...many houses already have prepayment meters and they dont like taking them out once they are their..

Sometimes you dont get a choice

If you own your house or rent it from the local authority or a housing association and have not had the card meter put in because of previous debts, the energy company MUST change it upon request providing that it has been in place and used by you for more than 3 months. They will avoid doing so if they can get away with it because they earn more money with them.

You ask them to put in a card meter and they can’t get round quick enough to do it.

A card meter will cost about £180 more in a year for the average house.

The situation is not clear with a private landlord. It all depends on the tenancy agreement.

When moving into a property that has a card meter, the chances are that it will have a debit on it. I’m told that if you charge your card with £1 and insert it, it will wipe off the debt but you lose your pound. Whether this is true or not I do not know but my son was told this when he was viewing a flat rented by a private landlord. Maybe derekgas can confirm if this is true or not.

But it is vital that you get in touch with the energy supplier if the meter has a debt on it. Not tomorrow, not next week but before you move in if you can or at least on the day that you do move in. If there are any meter readings make a note of them and whilst you are in touch with the energy company ask what the actually tariff is.

emamum · 19-06-2008, 17:22

a new tenants card wipes the debt and you keep your £

when i asked them to take the meter out i was told i would have to pay...

panther · 19-06-2008, 18:06

Iv never had a card meter, when i moved into my house im in now it did have one, i rung transco to see who the supplier was, then i rung them and told em i wanted it out, i had no problems getting a new meter in

and i didnt have to pay a penny!...who was the supplier emamum?

emamum · 19-06-2008, 18:09

hmm....its npower... i'm gunna be ringing them again then!

panther · 19-06-2008, 18:13

Thats the same one i use and i had no problems, unless they have changed it since then( 6 yrs ago

)....threaten to change suppliers, they will soon give ya what ya want

Benipete · 19-06-2008, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by emamum23

a new tenants card wipes the debt and you keep your £

when i asked them to take the meter out i was told i would have to pay...

Mine was in credit for £3 but when i did the£1 trick i got the pound but lost the £3 credit.

emzy · 19-06-2008, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benipete

Mine was in credit for £3 but when i did the£1 trick i got the pound but lost the £3 credit.

If theres credit on, or even emergency credit, use that up first before using your new card

derekgas · 19-06-2008, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by polly

What is a multifuel stove?

How can normal, non technically minded consumers get info on alternative forms of heating?

I will pm you some info polly. a multifuel stove burns coal, logs, paper etc.

Bonnyboy · 19-06-2008, 21:46

On the electrical side of things, I’m going to attempt rigging a motion sensor light switch to the telly tomorrow. Both of us are at home most of the day and we are guilty as hell of turnin the telly on first thing, then just wanderin off into the kitchen for the rest of the morning.

I’m not electrically minded will seek advice first lol…dunno if things like the wattage or amps of the telly comes into play.

If it works, it should turn the telly off after a certain time if the room is left empty and turn it back on when summat moves in the room lol. Should save us a bundle.

Will let you know if it’s possible and if it is a pain in the bum….not much good if you have to get up and wave at a motion sensor all night to keep the telly on

Loz · 19-06-2008, 21:58

Me and my fiance usually snuggle up under a duvet instead of putting the heating on and we wear jumpers etc.. too.
We shouldn't have to do this but it does save money and seeing as we don't have much money it's something we have to do.
I dread to think what old people have to go through though.