General Chat

"The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Ofgem are investigating claims by a whistleblower that Britain's wholesale gas market has been frequently manipulated by energy companies.

The allegations, revealed by The Guardian newspaper, suggest the £300bn market has been fixed in a way similar to the banks' fiddling of the Libor interest rate."

With the AVERAGE gas bill now exceeding £850 pa and average elec bill approx £500 pa. it is going to be a very difficult few months for many. Many older people live in largish houses and need to keep very warm - and we only get £200 help with these mounting bills.

Companies have always claimed that wholesale prices have forced their arm and claim retail profits at approx 3% leave no room for much manoevre.

But if they were found to be jointly fixing the wholesale price......... :-( :-(

'only' get £200 John. Actually I think that is very generous. I know gas and electricity prices have risen steeply over the years (ours in a 4 bed house do not cost as much as the 'average') But, I wonder if we have all also got soft. Most of the older people among us will have grown up in houses that were not centrally heated at all. I grew up in what was then a mosern bungalow but we had coal fires, then converted to gas/electric fires in the living rooms and an electric fire on the wall in the bedroom which was rarely put on. We just wore more clothes when it was cold. This continued until we (My OH and I) had our first centrally heated house in 1981. The previous house had storage heaters (1973-81) From 1960 - 1968 we too just had coal fires and from 68 to 73 we had a weird type of hot air blown through the house from what looked like a lorry radiator.

So, even now I don't turn the heating on all day, even when here, or turn it up in the evening. I put on an extra sweater or fleece.


But it wouldn't surprise me to find they were fixing the prices, nothing surprises me these days.

Well said Ann.I feel that folk are softer these days.Can you remember when Jack Frost had painted on the windows on the inside as well as outside !
In the 60s I lived in a 26 roomed stone 1874 house on the seafront of a west Wales seaside town.We only had a coal fire in one room,but we were healthy, OK younger,but we wrapped up in warmer clothes and never had complaints from the children.....hot water bottles in bed at night.
We didn't have dryers and dishwashers to use a lot of Electric and other appliances.
A daily shower??...a good wash down in a cold bathroom.A bath once a week.
We survived all that probably healthier than today

Like you I still try to be economical with everything...can't stop the way we were brought up.
I appreciate the Christmas bonus.

Fuel prices started to soar in advent of 'privatisation'

The only interest these companies have is the shareholders and profit. And while any business is there to make profit, it should also be there to provide a fair service to its customers. Competition in any market, should be ‘just that’. There is no competition, the energy giants won’t allow it.

All the energy companies ‘collude’ to determine the cost of fuel, when one raises prices the rest follow, after many a board meeting – together!

Would be interested to know how many MPs have shares in the energy companies?

This is only my opinion of course......lets see what the FSA uncover ;-)

It always surprises me how much electricity an electric kettle takes. We have one of those 'meters' that shows you how much is being used and the kettle makes it go right up, makes tou only put in as much as you need. And yes, bath once a week Brenda. And to this day we do not have a daily shower. I do not see/smell the need. :-D

Morning Gins, I think you have nailed that one, exactly what i have been saying for ages

Roy

Great minds Porkie :-D

I've always had central heating, hot showers and baths. I couldnt imagine not showering in the morning though

............and most evenings too ;-)


No wonder my bills are so high :-(

Had our £200 paid into the bank today which we are grateful for and got a letter from my gas and leccy supplier that they will be increasing my DD to cover £180 extra charges for the next 12 months. So in one hand out the other.

So might invest the £20 in some thermals.