| Author |
Message |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 18 February, 2006 - 12:06 am: | |
British Gas have just announced a 22% price rise.
I have just changed my supplier and got a cheaper price fixed for a year. Npower are holding this offer open until next Tuesday to telephone callers only. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 18 February, 2006 - 07:20 pm: | |
This is surely due to the cost of supply and the fact that we are dependent on Russia for our energy. Look at what happened in Latvia.
We need an energy policy in this country committed to renewable non nuclear forms. I work in afforable housing development and we are all putting in condensing gas boilers at considerable expense and need the gas to give us our eco homes ( energy efficiency ratings required to meet government policy. Gas is ceasing to be the most cost effective means of providing heat and hot water. This is going to cause a real problems for our lowest income families. I really doubt whether the other suppliers can hold out for long if British Gas can't.
We will need a new boiler soon, and we have been thinking of the solar panel option which can reduce costs. This may prove to be a good investment. Come to think of it ,we seem to have enough water flowing through Forest Hill to have our own hydroelectric facility...... |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 18 February, 2006 - 10:29 pm: | |
Roz,
Wait until Centrica (British Gas) announce their profits! I think the figures are due next week.
I don't remember the prices going down when the supplies came from our own North Sea gas fields.
We do need an energy policy urgently.
Renewable energy sources should be so much more reliable than fossil fuels.
Even President Bush (an oil man) seems to be reluctant to rely on oil for much longer!
But how could the energy company hike the price every year? Would you believe them if they said the wind was more expensive this year?
I was told that British Gas buy future contracts on gas. So they should not have been subject to the recent price increases. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 19 February, 2006 - 05:44 pm: | |
Centrica (the parent company of British Gas) are due to announce profits of £1,500,000,000 soon! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 06:12 pm: | |
Where do I start?
We import little or no gas from Russia, almost being self sufficient (but declining quickly) and the remainder mainly coming from Norway.
In future we will be importing from places such as Qatar and Algeria, via tanker, and more imports from Norway via a new pipeline. But in all of these situations we will be competing with other customers so no guarantee we will get what we want. Russia tends to supply to it's near neighbours, and Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland.
But the market is easily panicked eg fears of a severe winter (did not happen) and fun and games between Russia and Ukraine. All this meant wholesale price went through the roof and we pay for it later in the day. Russia, although it has large reserves, doesn't seem to have the infrastructure to export the levels it should. When it got cold in Russia they cut exports to Italy and other countries to provide gas to their own.
We've moved progressively away from a centrally controlled economy and privitised our energy industry many years ago. We were quite happy to have falling energy bills but now the gas has almost run out we are now finding that lack of new investment, and some pretty ropy international markets, are starting to hurt. There is also an artificial link to oil prices.
We lost the initiative in the late 80s on nuclear, renewables have still along way to go no matter how green we pretend to be. This winter we've relied on that old fashioned polluting stuff coal to generate most of our electricity.
If you are a private company like Centrica/ British Gas would you turn down the opportunity to maximise profits? No better or worse than the major oil companies. But I do take issue with the fat cats making a mint speculating on the market, and thanks to the new East London Line extension we will get even more of them living out here!
And as for George Dubberyer - American presidents are not generally interested in saving the planet, it is the instability of the gulf region dummy!
What's this got to do with SE23? Not a lot apart from the thread on windows (ie insulation)
Look at www.nationalgrid.com/uk/gas/data/dsr if you want to know more about gas markets or www.ofgem.org.uk
PS I'm working on your side (unless you are someone profiteering from this.) |
Webmaster
Joined 01-01-2003
| | Posted on Monday, 20 February, 2006 - 09:39 pm: | |
Agreed, this one's rather off-topic ... |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 08:10 am: | |
I agree with the Webmaster . How does this become a local issue. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 10:03 am: | |
There are a lot of local people using gas supplied by British Gas.
Why are you criticising this topic and not the earlier topic "Freezing Courtesy of British Gas"?
And if nobody is interested why have other people posted replies to it? |
Jo108
Joined 03-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 10:26 am: | |
On Saturday I switched to duel fuel with EDF London Energy and capped my charge rate for 2 years - which costs .1p per unit on top of the price on the day you sign up - i.e. an average household cost of £2.50 per month for both based on current pricing levels. Well worth doing considering they are also planning 11% price rises - for electricity I think. The offer is open to end of march and even if it takes British Gas longer than that to transfer you over, which it might well do, they will still let you cap the price if you do it before then.
I also got 2500 nectar points for switching.
Of course in 2 years time I'll probably have to just burn my furniture. Hopefully I'll have some furniture by then. |
Jo108
Joined 03-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 10:30 am: | |
Also got an additional £48 annual discount by going duel fuel and direct debit - which is better than a kick in the teeth!
FYI, www.uswitch.com lets you compare all the deals as well as rating each supplier on customer service. |
Jo108
Joined 03-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 10:31 am: | |
Am I allowed to say all this? |
Webmaster
Joined 01-01-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 12:16 pm: | |
Sherwood - there are a lot of local people using corn flakes supplied by Kelloggs but I'd suggest that too would be off-topic in an SE23-specific forum. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:36 pm: | |
I again find myself to total agreement with the webmaster .
Surely a lot of us have views on Iraq . But are they really suitable for a local site. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:40 pm: | |
Why is it only my post that is criticised?
I have just found another post that related to East Dulwich.
Be consistent, please. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 01:47 pm: | |
Brian,
Why did you put this post on the topic "Feezing for weeks courtesy of British Gas"
"We seem to depend to much on modern conveniences. If cold put more clothes on as first option . No wonder we are short of energy."
if my post is not suitable for a local site?
Can you explain why you thought that was suitable topic? |
Jo108
Joined 03-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 04:12 pm: | |
Sherwood, you have too much time on your hands.
DOn't get stroppy with the webmaster - (s)he gives his/her services for free, and without him/her, we wouldn't be able to argue about whether or not we are getting fair treatment or who did what to whom first. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 21 February, 2006 - 07:07 pm: | |
Lets all calm down! Personally I don't see it as an issue if the occasional national issue is discussed on this forum but rules is rules is rules and if we can digress on this issue, then there may be further digression on less desirable issues, so where does it all end. East Dulwich, probably!
Can we all just agree to disagree if necessary, but just leave it at that, and revert to more local topics, unless there is something of national concern that directly affects our lives in se23 eg, transport policy, etc.? I love you all too much to see you booted off this website for a minor disagreement. Have to say though this has all been amusing.... |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 22 February, 2006 - 08:47 am: | |
Well done Roz . You would make a great Condoleza Rice for your mediation |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 22 February, 2006 - 02:15 pm: | |
Disappointed, not one criticism of my essay on the subject "get back in your box BD, you patronising git"
Think that local action do bring down energy dependency (particularly on BG!) is a good thing, not that I am setting a good example. Similarly whilst not a local issue the more of us who switch the better for forcing prices down.
There are plenty of solar panels in Devonshire Road and a guy I know in Walters way in putting in that geological heating equipment. No doubt they are both expensive but I'd be interested in knowing more and this is LOCAL!
Anyway when the sea water rises and the Thames bursts its banks, we'll be OK, well at least for the short term. |
