OneGuyFromBarlick

Stanley wrote: As for energy charges, all units used, however they are expressed, should be the same price. I've never understood why the more you use the cheaper it gets.

How about this Stanley? Here electricity gets MORE expensive the more you use.

It is that way to encourage customers to be economic as there is a shortage of generating capacity. The supply is generally not interrupted in the district where we live in Nanning city, however, we suffer regular cuts at our apartment in the more rural city, Pingguo.

To give some figures we can use per month:
150 kWh @ 0.5283 cny = 5.637 p
100 kWh @ 0.5783 cny = 6.172 p
anything above this is 0.8283 cny per kWh = 8.837 p. Still cheap compared to UK prices, is that right? But very expensive in our local economy where many wages are only about 10% of those in the UK.

Bills are 2 monthly and there is no standing charge. So when you use more than 250 kWh per month you get an increase of 0.3 rmb per kwh (3.2p) which is a 57% increase on the basic price. The highest rate was only brought in about a year ago, and I didn't hear of any protests. Before it was introduced there was a period where all units were charged at the middle rate of 0.5783, and then they claimed the new rate could lower your bill if you used little electricity, very clever tactics. As I am a higher user our bills went up over 20%. We currently average around £40 a month for gas and electric for both apartments. Air conditioning is the major use, you need heating, we need cooling in our apartments.

Sorry, nothing to do with Barlick but may be of interest to Pluggy and others.

Sounds sensible to me.....

I have a serious matter to report... The heating cracked on this morning (stat set at 18C). Mind you, I do have my bedroom window wide open still so I took the hint and shut it down to normal winter position, just open a crack. A reminder that we aren't far off September now.....

I worked out yesterday just how well my panels are doing. I have 100% readings for the past 12 months (somewhat fanatical metering with 4 meters). In simple terms, I gained £903 of income from what they generated and what I used myself saved £108 on the electric bill for the 12 months. Fairly close to the expected yield when they sold them to me. Another 5 years and they'll have paid for themselves (ish).

20th Aug 2012



20th Aug 2013



Top left Generated
Top Right Consumed
Bottom Left Import (The one I pay for)
Bottom Right Export

Not too sure about 'fanatical'. Just efficient monitoring and nowt wrong with that! Nobody would accuse the leccy board of fanaticism because they monitor your consumption.

Sign of the season. I lit a small fire in the front room last night and it wasn't excessive. The core temperature of the house is gradually falling and I'm afraid the heating season is almost upon us. Must order some coal from B&D!

We did the same last night, no functioning boiler yet so had to resort to the fire in the front room. Definitely felt chilly when sat down whilst watching TV. BG should be here during the afternoon slot. I will have to finish work early to accommodate. They had better have the bits they need or there will be hell to pay!

I was sat in shorts and tee shirt yesterday evening; Alison and Tom covered themselves with fleecy blankets...

`Glyn Rhonwy quarry: Gwynedd hydroelectric plan approved' - BBC News
Gwynedd councillors have approved controversial plans for a £100m mini hydroelectric power generation scheme on the edge of Snowdonia National Park.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-nort ... s-23920312

David, let's face it, you are carrying more personal insulation than most! (Now what was it the surgeon said about losing weight.....?)
Tiz, I'm all in favour of hydro power, far too much going to waste!
Ten bags of coal delivered yesterday at old price. Nice to know we have stock in.....

12 days after my last post and this morning the breeze is getting up and it's a topcoat colder out there. Past experience shows that wind has a major effect on how fast the house cools down, not because of draughts, we are fairly draught-free but simply because of the wind chill on the fabric of the house, especially if it's accompanied by rain which seems to be the case today. So I have lit the stove in the front room and will keep it in on a low setting so that we are nice and comfortable later. I refuse to allow the fact that this is the start of another heating season depress me. But I do feel sorry for anyone who is in a worse position than me and dreads the advent of the higher energy bills. It's a sad commentary on our modern Britain that many will have to put up with being cold.

Yes Stanley, house cooling down here as well.

Have put some long trousers on this morning to compensate.

Alison thinks when the clocks change is a good time to put the heating on.

David Whipp wrote:Have put some long trousers on this morning to compensate.

Perhaps the time has come to sew yourself into your underwear for winter like they used to do in the Scottish islands!

Tizer wrote:Perhaps the time has come to sew yourself into your underwear for winter like they used to do in the Scottish islands!

Underwear?

David Whipp wrote:

Tizer wrote:Perhaps the time has come to sew yourself into your underwear for winter like they used to do in the Scottish islands!

Underwear?

David, starting the heating season on a set date took me straight back to some old Victorian barracks at Lichfield where we were sat waiting to go to Germany. The heating was large open fires and massive square cast iron bunkers full of coke. It was bloody freezing and I remember what a blessing it was when they allowed us to light the fires. I think that was mid October.......

I think the clock change start up for the heating is to get me back for cold showers over the summer.

Our boiler heats a hot water cylinder. An hour's running heats enough water for around three days' showers (depending on how many times Tom has a shower...).

Typically, it's been Alison in the shower when the water has run cold. (Though it's caught me out more than once.)

Of an evening, there's great competition amongst the family to get one of the cats sat on your knee for the extra warmth...

Pluggy wrote:

David Whipp wrote:

Tizer wrote:Perhaps the time has come to sew yourself into your underwear for winter like they used to do in the Scottish islands!

Underwear?

But don't forget the goose grease David!
http://boards.fool.co.uk/sewing-childre ... sort=whole

On a serious historical note.... When I did the Lancashire Textile Project I used the Social History questions compiled by Dr Elizabeth Roberts for her large survey of life in Lancaster and Preston. One of the questions in the list was about sewing-in for the winter. I never found anyone who had heard of it but something must have prompted Elizabeth to include it.

CH cracked on for the first time this morning. I think it could have done it before had the stove not been lit but this morning and yesterday I didn't bother.

CH cracked on at low level this morning. Colder weather is coming.....

CH tripped in. Who cares, no coal carrying till my eye has settled down! Thank god for the pesky scientists who made automatic heating possible.

According to my online account I used just over £10 of gas and electricity last month

24th Aug - 24th Sept £50.93.....

It will deteriorate steadily until January when it will peak around £170. July was around £25 (about half of it standing charge). Rounded into a nice cosy £88 a month over the year.

Good lad Pluggy, must be nice to see the fruits of your investment coming in....