ENERGY MATTERS

[Big Kev]

E.on have added the £66 to my account, I am in credit now but will be leaving the DD as it is for now.

[Tizer]

https://mindmachine.co.uk/write-up/writ ... cba1185463

I notice in that linked page that it refers to the use of Zigbee to make connections in the house. We have our remote CH thermostat connected to the boiler by Zigbee. It was supplied with the boiler and it caused us loads of trouble. It kept failing to connect to the boiler even though they were close (Zigbee in kitchen, boiler in utility room)*. The plumber had to keep coming back to get it to work. He spent a lot of time on the phone to the company before they managed to sort it. It works now but we daren't take it out of the mains socket in case we can't get it to work again!

*NB. Mrs Tiz reminded me of this....the Zigbee was supposed to be able to connect to the boiler from anywhere in a normal house. We couldn't get it to reliably connect from anywhere. In the end we made a strong complaint to the company (Ideal boilers) and they admitted they were having problems with it and that we should have got a booster with the Zigbee. We insisted that if it that was so there should have been a booster supplied with the Zigbee in the first. After haranguing them they finally agreed to send us one free of charge. It still took a number of attempts to get the whole system working. Smart house? They can keep it as far as we are concerned!

[Stanley]

"The helpful chap who sorted out his invoices put him through to another department who booked the appointment."
I wish I could find a helpful chap at British gas! Ask Col what phone number he used please....
Kev. that explains the mystery figure of £66 credit on my account with no explanation what it was. Still doesn't explain why 3 months energy and standing charges cost less than £20. My letter to them is sat in the post box and will go today. If there is no response in a week I copy it to the complaints address.

[Wendyf]

A chance in a million Stanley, after many failed attempts. Col says that the trick is to say " it doesn't seem as if you can help me, please put me through to someone who can." That usually leads to being parked on hold and eventually cut off but he also tries asking to be called back by the person who might be able to help. Another risk but it worked eventually!!

[Stanley]

I've taken that on board Wendy, thank Colin.... I shall continue to report....

[Whyperion]

It does look like at present , the cost to the govt of consumer support might be falling, possibly to not a lot. In part this is the present cost of Gas Futures - so the price the market is asking for for three months hence, is falling. This is due to europe having more or less topped up its storage capacity. Additionally economic downturn in China has reduced demand (and lets not forget it was the post general covid situation that increased world inc US and UK energy demand for business leading to the increase in the price of Gas from its covid low point in the first place.

However, this is a big risk , as we have no idea what winter temperatures will be, therefore no idea how long those reserves will be used up, and to me , how will they be replenished if Russia sends nothing through the pipelines (should we / europe be energy dependent on Russia anyway ?).

[Big Kev]

that explains the mystery figure of £66 credit on my account with no explanation what it was. Still doesn't explain why 3 months energy and standing charges cost less than £20.

What was your expected cost for those 3 months?

[Stanley]

Haven't the faintest idea Kev but certainly a lot more than about £20!

[Big Kev]

Haven't the faintest idea Kev but certainly a lot more than about £20!

It does sound a bit low, was it for July, August and September?

My elec usage, for those 3 months, totalled £210 and gas came in at £30 (including standing charges) so your £20 bill, for the same period, doesn't sound right.

[Whyperion]

I suspect stanley's annuity might push him over the limit for pension credit , which would trigger normally some extra govt cash, also some suppliers if you go to their website and put your family make up and income in will add a £140 warm home allowance to your bill ( some seem more 'generous' than others ). Stanley could try it on thick with the DWP on his long term damaged shoulder (he was on the sick once ?) and claim Attendance Allowance at the lower level, its intended for (but never enough to pay for ) a carer to come in and do some basic personal care needs including cooking and cleaning - not certain if machining screw turn threads is included - and it also becomes a trigger to more funds in / NHS costs helps for some. (and some claim for a reduction in your water costs too from your water company)
Most OAPs are on the old state pension (+ earnings uplifts - we know it gets complicated ) of =141.85 per week + 25p for the over 80s (limited to a date when the five bob uplift ceased to be paid to new persons turning 80 occured). This can be topped up by £40ish a week with pension credit dependent on savings levels and incomes from other pension schemes ( level can be more if you have housing costs - note the cost of keeping your own home secure against weather / painting / insurance doesnt count but if your landlord charges you for such things then the maintenance costs do count and pension credit will pay a proportion of this - note similar service charges in a care home also can be claimed for a contribution to pension credit ). Owing to the joys of 4 and 5 week months its normally best to average the pension income amounts over the year (for a normal 52 week year this for 2022/23 , so it is £614 of a basic state pension vs £173 ish of pension credit that can be claimed (so thats a quick calc if your annuities or workplace pensions pay about £170 or more a month you probably wont get pension credit - but it doesnt cost to apply on the govt website to check the exact amounts ). For more recent State Pension persons the Pension is about £184 a week and in theory Pension Credit is less likely to be paid but I think you can still claim if you have big allowable housing costs. Rules for civil partnership couples etc are much the same but more complex and the numbers change and are not the same a 2x one person.

[Stanley]

I've had another account this morning (Triggered by my letter?) I now owe £212 and it will be taken out of my DD. (This lines up well with yours and we have always been similar. Thanks for that!) This details the standing charges and electricity usage as well but is still confused. I am fairly satisfied that I have my payment right now but am going to pursue the matter because they still have me on a quarterly account and not a monthly one as stated in my website details.
In short I may have triggered an accurate account but not yet got the details right. The account is still screwed up.

[plaques]

Came across this New Statesman interview. with someone who runs an energy supply firm, didn't catch his name but made perfect sense in everything he said. Well balanced and straight to the point. Rather a long YouTube at 19 minutes. but if you can spare the time well worth listening to.

[Stanley]

I watched it Ken and he rang all my bells. Why isn't such common sense thinking dominating the market? Could it be that the present circumstances suit some people as they are making windfall profits? They in turn influence the government to allow the profits by funding their parliamentary work. The seedbeds used to be PPE then it was property development, is it now energy markets?

[Stanley]

Ian, Susan has approached Octopus for a quotation and they are not taking any new customers on until the situation gets more normal.
She approached them because I said I was going to and says that they have offered to send her an email when the situation changes. I find that perfectly understandable, that's what I am doing.....

[Tizer]

I hope she explained that you were in your 80s and living alone. The good energy companies usually give such people priority.

[PanBiker]

I see what you mean from the quote link on the home page. I don't normally see that as links from emails I receive always go directly to my account. The £100 credit share link that I posted earlier is still available from existing customers account pages.

I got my latest electric statement today. New tariffs, standing charges, how much we have been charged and what credit we have remaining. I will probably get the gas statement tomorrow or Monday.

[Stanley]

Peter, She wasn't approaching them on my behalf but her own. I have nothing to complain about actually, £227 for three months is OK, I know that's summer months but even so the leccy for cooking and the shed is on there.

[Big Kev]

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Octopus are still taking customers, it just has to be done over the phone rather than online.

[PanBiker]

Aye, nowt you can do about the tariffs and standing charges, more about having a stable supplier who knows how to communicate properly with their customers.

[Wendyf]

The turbine is fettled and back up! More work to do before it's connected up to the new system though.

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[Big Kev]

Good stuff

[Tripps]

Mark me down as 'baffled'. I just got a letter telling me what my winter fuel allowance will be.

Combined with the reduction in direct debit from Octopus (now down to just double last years figure) - and I shall effectively have free electricity and gas for the next six months.

[Big Kev]

The cap on energy prices charged to households is now only guaranteed until April next year, but will then be reviewed.
I'm thinking not letting Eon Next reduce my direct debit was a sensible move.

[Whyperion]

Mark me down as 'baffled'. I just got a letter telling me what my winter fuel allowance will be.

Combined with the reduction in direct debit from Octopus (now down to just double last years figure) - and I shall effectively have free electricity and gas for the next six months.

T , I presume you got the £600.00 . Indeed it is a bit of a flat rate hammer, with only crude means testing, particulary at the "cut off" stage, basically you get it or you dont, and most Universal Credit Claimants dont get it, and they generally have less weekly income than retirement pensioners. If you find you have too much money, use it for the grandkids at christmas, or buy some tinned beans for the food bank I guess.

[Whyperion]

The turbine is fettled and back up! More work to do before it's connected up to the new system though.

Always confused, though I suggest they are useful, in that Solar creates DC, Generators can give a form of DC , alternator driven ones are normally AC output, its quite tricky to create a balanced load without losses (presumably mainly heat - which itself could be a little useful).