I have a Monday Peeve Paula!
I have just read this and shake my head in disbelief.
No need to cut energy use and no risk of winter blackouts, No 10 tells public
(source)
As a light user consumer, the possibility of blackouts is way back in my mind compared to how people will afford to pay their energy bills which are escalating out orbit, let alone control. AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE LETTING THEM DO IT.
We are fortunate to be on a fixed tariff for now, but when that ends, our monthly payments will quadruple as the headlines are full of the average bills reaching £6000 pa by April 2023. That’s £500 pm month folks. A full state pension brings in £740 every four weeks. You do the math! How are single pensioners supposed to heat and eat this winter? In case you’re wondering, I’m on a reduced pension due to moving of goalposts for eligibility and losing two working years contributions from age 16 to 18.
The Government seem to have no idea that people are cutting back their usage because of cost, not fear of blackouts!
I have recently read about potential rebates for consumers on smart meters for not using their washing machines at peak times and previously how energy companies were thinking of introducing variable tariffs throughout the day so that to boil a kettle for a cuppa in the morning (peak for breakfast) or dinner time (evenings when people are home from work, another peak) will cost more than off peak times ie. the early hours, or during the day when people are at work. No doubt businesses will be on a different tariff so that the energy companies can cash in for the work force brewing up.
“We have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world” the spokeswoman said adding about access to North Sea Gas reserves alongside reliable partners like Norway.
Thank heavens then that they are not part of the EU who are apparently cutting back supply to the UK.
If there are blackouts due to insufficient supply for demand, the knock on effect will be catastrophic. No electricity means no shopping as tills won’t work or be able to process payments, no fuel as pumps won’t work, no cash as ATMs won’t work, no fast food as ovens won’t work let alone payment methods for takeouts, and that is to name just a few.
BoJo of course is on his holidays working on his flabtan saying it’s not his problem but that of his successor. Those two are still arguing in their playground (one wanting to cut taxes which will do NOTHING for those already out of the income tax bracket and the other splashing around in his new £400K pool) and not tackling the issue foremost in everyone’s mind. With the cost of living rocketing towards the moon with inflation at 10.1%, how are we, Joe Public, supposed to live?
Still, every silver lining has a cloud……….. if there is no electricity going to homes, then the consumer can’t use it so the energy companies can’t sting us. However, you can guarantee they will still charge the daily service fee regardless.
Fat Cats and all that.
pensitivity101 
Ugh! Ours went up around $20/month under the new energy plan. Everything is going up! 😡😡😡
Consumers had a 54% hike in April, a 64 to 70% hike due for October, another for December/January though the percentage hasn’t been announced yet, and yet another next April.
Horrible
robbery and murder by proxy.
I am dreading this winter. The bills are going to skyrocket! I don’t know how I’ll cope! The government have no clue how normal people have to live!
I agree Carol Anne. Are there any financial help packages for you over there?
They gave us €200 in the spring and they are saying they’re going to give us another 200 in the winter into our account to pay the electricity I think it’s going to take a lot more than that though to get things back on track
We’ve had a £150 refund from the council and should be getting an extra £300 later from the government as we are pensioners. Every household is getting £400 knocked off their energy bills over 6 months (October to March). It is a drop in the ocean for some who are already struggling.
We’re suffering the same over here. I read an article that families are having to chose between heating and eating. 🙄
That has been going on for a while with pensioners. Now it’s working families being affected. It shouldn’t be like this anywhere.
True
Our government is composed of a bunch of privileged rich people who don’t have a clue about how the rest of us live. Totally out of touch with the real world! All they are interested in is making more money for themselves and their crooked corporate donors.
Oh I am so with you Clive! Iain Duncan Smith bragged he could live on £50 a week. I offered to do the accounts so that he could prove it…………. funny I never got a reply. They are all corrupt and heaven help us whoever the next Tory leader is.
Given that the leader is being chosen from among the bunch appointed by Johnson as he thought they were less competent than him and would make him look good, we have no chance, do we!
Nope.