British Gas to raise Electricity prices by 12.5%

KK wrote:Solar panels are a good investment and will eventually pay for themselves if you plan on staying in your property in excess of 20 years. However they have dropped in price massively (they're around £8000 and under now, I think) so look to the future and you can see where we'd be if they became the norm.

I think it's generally considered that they pay for themselves in about 10 years.
The problem is that some of the panels also have a lifespan of about 10 years.


Whatever you do though never get those 'free' panels where you get a lower bill but none of the money for the excess. They basically mean your roof is owned by someone else for 25 years (but you're still responsible for repairs and whatnot) and they generally reduce the value of the house.

The problem is that the electricity suppliers get the same cut of the money as the DNO's who have to build, maintain and run the network. All suppliers need is a few computers and a call centre and they're good to go, it's outrageous that OFGEM haven't sorted this yet.

Being Nationalised wouldn't necessarily fix the problem, the industry is plagued with the problems of nationalisation but at the same time the industry would massively benefit from making the 60+ year investments that it once did.

Those of you who think you will be sticking it to the man with solar energy and the like are unfortunately living in a dream world.

Hime wrote:The problem is that the electricity suppliers get the same cut of the money as the DNO's who have to build, maintain and run the network. All suppliers need is a few computers and a call centre and they're good to go, it's outrageous that OFGEM haven't sorted this yet.

Being Nationalised wouldn't necessarily fix the problem, the industry is plagued with the problems of nationalisation but at the same time the industry would massively benefit from making the 60+ year investments that it once did.

Those of you who think you will be sticking it to the man with solar energy and the like are unfortunately living in a dream world.

Spot on Hime.
If you really want to save on energy start turning items off that you don't need on, it really is that simple. Being an Electrician people ask why there energy bill is high quite often and looking around people's houses/businesses they have so much gooseberry fool plugged in and on it still amazes me , also all these smart devices that have taken off generally won't reduce you bill unless you going from old style lighting/heating to brand new, but most people have generally already changed over to energy efficient items.

I don't I'm now if nationalisation is the answer however I do think if it we are going to let private companies run essential utilities they shouldn't be allowed to run for profit.

Handing it over to private firms is a special level of gooseberry fool as they just take the piss and know there is bugger all we can do as consumers as we "need" the service.

Errkal wrote:I don't I'm now if nationalisation is the answer however I do think if it we are going to let private companies run essential utilities they shouldn't be allowed to run for profit.

Handing it over to private firms is a special level of gooseberry fool as they just take the piss and know there is bugger all we can do as consumers as we "need" the service.

It is still effectively run by the government as the industry is regulated by OFGEM.

One of the problems is that most of the public have no idea how electricity is delivered to them. The media use this to whip up a frenzy about energy prices without any information about how much things cost and why.

Hime wrote:

Errkal wrote:I don't I'm now if nationalisation is the answer however I do think if it we are going to let private companies run essential utilities they shouldn't be allowed to run for profit.

Handing it over to private firms is a special level of gooseberry fool as they just take the piss and know there is bugger all we can do as consumers as we "need" the service.

It is still effectively run by the government as the industry is regulated by OFGEM.

One of the problems is that most of the public have no idea how electricity is delivered to them. The media use this to whip up a frenzy about energy prices without any information about how much things cost and why.

With the massive profits the companies post and tbe saleries of the bosses I don't think issue is the cost of power or the cost of delivering it.

Errkal wrote:

Hime wrote:

Errkal wrote:I don't I'm now if nationalisation is the answer however I do think if it we are going to let private companies run essential utilities they shouldn't be allowed to run for profit.

Handing it over to private firms is a special level of gooseberry fool as they just take the piss and know there is bugger all we can do as consumers as we "need" the service.

It is still effectively run by the government as the industry is regulated by OFGEM.

One of the problems is that most of the public have no idea how electricity is delivered to them. The media use this to whip up a frenzy about energy prices without any information about how much things cost and why.

With the massive profits the companies post and tbe saleries of the bosses I don't think issue is the cost of power or the cost of delivering it.

As I said earlier, the suppliers get the same cut as those that deliver the energy and all if this is regulated by the government. How would nationalisation help if they government already make the rules without the worry of how it is to be achieved?

As I said earlier there are benefits to the industry being nationalised but it being run more efficiently isn't one of them.

In terms of the profit, if that was poured back into the public purse that would be a start. When it was all privatised, the tax payer was supposed to get a better deal but it certainly doesn't feel like that.

captain red dog wrote:In terms of the profit, if that was poured back into the public purse that would be a start. When it was all privatised, the tax payer was supposed to get a better deal but it certainly doesn't feel like that.

Not saying that you're wrong but what exactly are you basing that on? I bet that for most people their energy/utility bills are cheaper than council tax.

Lucien wrote:

darksideby182 wrote:

Hime wrote:The problem is that the electricity suppliers get the same cut of the money as the DNO's who have to build, maintain and run the network. All suppliers need is a few computers and a call centre and they're good to go, it's outrageous that OFGEM haven't sorted this yet.

Being Nationalised wouldn't necessarily fix the problem, the industry is plagued with the problems of nationalisation but at the same time the industry would massively benefit from making the 60+ year investments that it once did.

Those of you who think you will be sticking it to the man with solar energy and the like are unfortunately living in a dream world.

Spot on Hime.

If you really want to save on energy start turning items off that you don't need on, it really is that simple. Being an Electrician people ask why there energy bill is high quite often and looking around people's houses/businesses they have so much gooseberry fool plugged in and on it still amazes me , also all these smart devices that have taken off generally won't reduce you bill unless you going from old style lighting/heating to brand new, but most people have generally already changed over to energy efficient items.

You'd think it'd save money, but on the first page someone said British Gas were raising prices because the demand's gone down (!) so it look like we're strawberry floated either way! Soon parents will be saying to their kids "What are you doing? Turn that TV and light on!"

The demand is definitely not going down.

Lucien wrote:

darksideby182 wrote:

Hime wrote:The problem is that the electricity suppliers get the same cut of the money as the DNO's who have to build, maintain and run the network. All suppliers need is a few computers and a call centre and they're good to go, it's outrageous that OFGEM haven't sorted this yet.

Being Nationalised wouldn't necessarily fix the problem, the industry is plagued with the problems of nationalisation but at the same time the industry would massively benefit from making the 60+ year investments that it once did.

Those of you who think you will be sticking it to the man with solar energy and the like are unfortunately living in a dream world.

Spot on Hime.

If you really want to save on energy start turning items off that you don't need on, it really is that simple. Being an Electrician people ask why there energy bill is high quite often and looking around people's houses/businesses they have so much gooseberry fool plugged in and on it still amazes me , also all these smart devices that have taken off generally won't reduce you bill unless you going from old style lighting/heating to brand new, but most people have generally already changed over to energy efficient items.

You'd think it'd save money, but on the first page someone said British Gas were raising prices because the demand's gone down (!) so it look like we're strawberry floated either way! Soon parents will be saying to their kids "What are you doing? Turn that TV and light on!"

If you don't use any energy it won't cost a penny

If it were government run then at least the millions (billions?) of pounds of profit (or at least some of it) could be poured back into public services or something instead of the bank account of some rich CEOs and shareholders.

We're with British Gas. I'm pissed off but I feel like any other energy supplier is going to be just as gooseberry fool and expensive. So I'm sure we'll end up staying with British Gas just so we don't have the rigmarole of switching between providers. I don't know, I really should look at finding a cheaper alternative in response to this.

Tragic Magic wrote:We're with British Gas. I'm pissed off but I feel like any other energy supplier is going to be just as gooseberry fool and expensive. So I'm sure we'll end up staying with British Gas just so we don't have the rigmarole of switching between providers. I don't know, I really should look at finding a cheaper alternative in response to this.

The rigmarole consists of completing a 10 minute application online then waiting for confirmation that you're with a different supplier.

Fill this in and get constantly updated by email on the cheapest tariff for you: https://clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub/

It'll also show you if there are termination fees etc as well as customer satisfaction score



I'm on Green Energy and you can get a comparison rate easily here: https://www.greenenergyuk.com/

Laga is on Green Star: https://www.mygreenstarenergy.com/



It's worth doing the top one at the very least as you'll likely save about £100 a year if changing suppliers/tariffs isn't something you normally do

Switching supplier is very easy. If you spend an hour or so with a calculator, looking at costs and such, you'll save a bit in the long run.
Customers are thankfully becoming a lot more savvy.

It is not just about the money. I have never been dicked around any way near as much with a smaller provider. It took 18 months for npower to produce a bill once.

18 months.

I switch every year through Quidco/uSwitch as soon as my fixed tariff expires. Get a cheaper rate every year plus cashback.
Takes literally less than 10 minutes to go through the whole process. There's no hassle to it whatsoever.