ENERGY MATTERS

[Big Kev]

Good stuff
I've seen the 'crimped' connections you mention, they look to be popular in the US.

[Wendyf]

I'm sure I remember Colin muttering about crimped connections when we had our new oil boiler installed last year.

[PanBiker]

Tom finished at about 4.30pm all commissioned and the new digital thermostat demonstrated. Boiler commissioned through his phone. He has all his installs and their settings stored on his phone for further reference when servicing or fault finding. He just has to come back to do a bit of final tidying mainly for the embedding of the flue vent. He fitted a new Mag Clean on the system which is now a full metal version rather than the previous predominantly plastic model. The boiler is a Viessmann which is manufactured in Germany. It has integral re-pressurising valves rather than the key lock on our previous Worcester Bosch.

[Stanley]

Good to hear Ian. You'll get the benefit this morning, it's very close to a frost.

[PanBiker]

When I washed up the bits that wont go in the dishwasher last night I thought the hot water temperature (HWD) on it's default was a bit low so I whacked that up a bit. I left it on economy as Tom said the difference to delivery at the tap is only about 5 seconds longer and if its not on economy it keeps recycling a reservoir in the boiler to give more or less instant gratification. I currently have the boiler on override as the house has only had partial heating for about a week and it needs to warm through. I will switch it back to our auto selection when it has brought the background temperature up a bit. We have new neighbours at one side but the other is only used occasionally when the owner pops back as he works away for long periods. Its a bit like being in a gable end house.

[Tripps]

The boiler is a Viessmann which is manufactured in Germany

So is mine - and I'm surprised to find that I have had it for fifteen years come January.

A few issues with the accompanying bits and pieces over the years, but the boiler itself has been trouble free.

[Stanley]

"Its a bit like being in a gable end house."
And that makes quite a difference. Glad you're settling in to heat again Ian, it makes all the difference. And yes, you're right about having to warm the walls again. I remember when we first put oil heating in at Hey Farm I was very disappointed because it took so long to warm the thick stone walls.

[Tizer]

A friend of ours has divorced her husband, they've sold their 4 bedroom modern house and she's moved to an 1890s 2-up, 2-down, flint and brick cottage, attached to another on one side, gable end on the other. Her energy bill is now much more than it was for the 4-bed, modern, fully detached house. We told her to go for a small, modern, well-insulated house, but no, she's in love with old cottages!

[Big Kev]

EON Next have gained visibility of my gas meter again, it was lost at the beginning of October but I decided to stay quiet and see if they noticed. They didn't
An email a week ago stirred them into action and the bill arrived today.
30th September 2024 — 25th November 2024 was £109.99. The electric will come through, as usual, on the 6th of the month. The gas account is still in credit so all is good

[Stanley]

Interesting that your leccy and gas are separate bills Kev. Is there a cunning reason for that?

[Big Kev]

Interesting that your leccy and gas are separate bills Kev. Is there a cunning reason for that?

I have no idea, I have had two separate bills for as long as I can remember.

Just had the email for the electric bill
30th September 2024 — 26th November 2024 £159.90

Thinking about it I don't remember seeing the October or November emails (should have been on the 6th) so they must be playing catch-up. I'm presuming normal service will resume on December 6th.

[Stanley]

The cap changed during that period Kev, was it on the 22 October? My meter reading changed from the last day of the month to the 22nd and has stayed there.
I think you've probably got them thoroughly confused.....

[Big Kev]

The cap changed during that period Kev, was it on the 22 October? My meter reading changed from the last day of the month to the 22nd and has stayed there.
I think you've probably got them thoroughly confused.....

The cap change was October 1st, there was a horrendous amount of 'traffic' which probably impacted the software. I've not dug into the database to check, it's frowned upon to (officially) look at your own account in the back end.

I am on a fixed tariff until June 2025 but, this morning, was offered a cheaper one with no penalty for changing to the cheaper one. A potential saving of around £85 a year. One click and tick the box, sorted.

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

Tom came back the other day to finalise the boiler install. He flushed the radiators and put some rust inhibitor into the new Mag Clean on the system. Rechecked for leaks and redid all the safety, leakage and emission tests for the flue. Completed all the gas safe paperwork which I signed off. I put the two boxing panels back yesterday and shoved a bit of filler in where required. I will use clear silicone to seal the edges and the screw positions. It will make it easier to remove, if required in the future. Quick coat of paint after that and you wont be able to tell that it's all been out.

[Stanley]

And Sally will be warm again! Well done Ian!

[Tripps]

I was contacted yesterday by Octopus selling solar panel and battery equipment. I filled in the enquiry, and wondered if Daryl was real or an AI figment. Well he's real Ok and he phoned me this morning to ask (and receive) some preliminary questions.

He needs me (effectively) to do the survey for them by photographing the house etc - including a picture inside the loft. I refused to do this as I deemed it risky at my age, and he then admitted they might be able to send a surveyor round in person.

He will get back to me.

There is little risk to me. I pay a £200 returnable deposit, and can cancel up to the day before the job starts.

PS I find this Solar panels plus battery seems to be a new thing, and the idea is you charge the battery during the day, and use the energy overnight. An updated Economy Seven ! The problem is - my heating is from gas, and a five kWh battery won't last long with heaters running from it.

I will also need to change to a smart meter - which I would be reluctant to do. They say the cost for ten panels and a 5kWh battery is about £10k, and the payback period is about 10 years. I should be so lucky. . .

Goodbye Daryl.

[Stanley]

I agree with you David. The cost and pay back time don't add up even when they are using the most optimistic estimates (as they most certainly will.)
My forecast is that gas heating is the future. The difference being the extraction of Hydrogen from the atmosphere and injecting it into the gas mains. It will be the first use of electricity made using fusion as an energy source.

[Tripps]

)
My forecast is that gas heating is the future

Let's get fracking. . . .

It will be the first use of electricity made using fusion as an energy source.

That will never happen.

[Stanley]

Time will tell David. It would surprise me if fracking came on line again. If it does it will be because there has been an admission that the fight to get to net zero has been lost. (Mind you, that isn't outside the bounds of possibility!)

[Tizer]

Time will tell David. It would surprise me if fracking came on line again.

It's alive and kicking in the USA: Chris Wright, a Colorado-based natural gas fracking CEO is Trump’s pick for Energy Secretary.

[Stanley]

Yes Peter and in doing so is damaging any efforts to get to global net zero and I fear that battle has been lost. That could affect the attitude to fracking in the UK.

[Tizer]

We need a lot more than this but at least it's a step forward...
`'Europe's biggest battery farm' built on coal mine' LINK

[Stanley]

I note they say nothing about the life of the batteries Peter....

[Big Kev]

My energy bills, up to March 6th, have just come in and I'm pleased to see that both accounts are still in credit

We are forecast a cooler few weeks so I'll leave it another couple of months before I request a refund.