ENERGY MATTERS

[Tripps]

In January I used 200 kWh of electricity (excactly) - which is a remarkably stable figure (+/- 10) suumer or winter, and I used 228 cubic metres of gas - third highest figure in the last eight years.
I tried to calculate the cost myself - but failed.
They tell me today, that the total cost will be £192.58.

[Stanley]

Thanks for posting that David. Allowing for the fact we are 180 miles further North than you that squares with mine and gives me further reassurance.
I calm my fears of the price by reflecting that January is probably the the heaviest month of the year for energy usage.
I've had another text asking me to take their survey. they have their priorities totally wrong!

[Big Kev]

I've had another text asking me to take their survey. they have their priorities totally wrong!

Why not take the opportunity to tell them what you think?

[Stanley]

I have done in the past Ken but never seen any sign that they were listening. I fear it would take something a bit more important than me to shift them.

[Big Kev]

If enough are commenting the same they'll have to listen.

[Tizer]

I fear it would take something a bit more important than me to shift them.

Do I take it then that you won't be voting to shift the Tories in the next General Election?

[Tripps]

Why not take the opportunity to tell them what you think?

When I am in 'helpful cooperative' mode - it happens now and then - I start to complete surveys. I ususally give up part way through though. First the length and number of questions, then the sheer banality of the questions gets me down. On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate the attitude of our staff. . . .

[Stanley]

It's got nothing to do with voting Peter. This is me saying I refuse to give my time freely to incompetent organisations who are using me to generate 'data'. Bully for anyone who believes answering what David correctly identifies as their banal questions. The one that got me going was would I recommend British Gas to my friends based on my recent experience with them. We're talking about the Ombudsman having to force them to address my issues and paying a fine and the current case of 'Smart Meters' that don't work and estimated consumption figures that are nowhere near the truth.
No, I refuse to spend any time on helping them. (Remember I am an irascible old man! )

[Wendyf]

Our power is off. Northern Powergrid hoping for restoration by 4pm. It looks to stretch from here down to Kelbrook, Sough and Salterforth then across the hill to Blacko.

[Stanley]

That's a bugger Wendy! And no extreme weather to blame for it. Any idea what the cause is?

[Wendyf]

No, just a cable issue but it is quite windy!

[Big Kev]

Our power is off. Northern Powergrid hoping for restoration by 4pm. It looks to stretch from here down to Kelbrook, Sough and Salterforth then across the hill to Blacko.

Do you have backup from your batteries?

[Wendyf]

Yes Kev we do. Freezer, electrics involved in the central heating, TV, WiFi and the bore hole pump all run off the batteries. We are all set up to survive power cuts. It just came back on 5 minutes ago though!
It's interesting to see where the power line goes from the reported cuts. Down Harden Clough and through Kelbrook and Sough to Salterforth then up the Drag and over Whitemoor to Blacko. Fascinating!

[Wendyf]

I spoke too soon, it has gone off again. There are northern power vehicles and men in orange jackets across the valley on Bleara Road.

[Stanley]

Fingers crossed for you Wendy.... We are so lucky down here.

[Stanley]

British Gas move in mysterious ways. They have issued a bill for one day, the 30 January and added it to the previous bill. I will have £231.70 taken from my bank account on 16 February.

[Wendyf]

Our power was finally restored just before 6pm yesterday. They replaced the insulators on a pole in the field below Broom House Farm. What is concerning is that pole was one of a number which are only a couple of years old.

[Stanley]

That's curious Wendy.....

[Big Kev]

Further to the looped supply saga, a potentially bit of good news. The NW Electricity supply map shows the main cable is at the front of the properties, this gives a more direct route to the cellars. It's still speculation, on my part, regarding how it will be resolved though.

ENWL are coming to carry out a 'site inspection' on February 23rd. The extent of the works will be discussed, the letter only mentions me and my immediate neighbour so it may just be two properties' supply being upgraded.

ElectricityNW have been. It's not practical to run a new supply from the front due to the level changes. The main cable is a metre under the footpath but the front gardens are getting on for two metres higher. It would be incredibly difficult dig the trench in the limited spaces available. There are a couple of other options which involve either, a 'main' cable being surface mounted on the front of the houses and new supplies dropped down from that. The other one is to look at the supply for Breeze Close (at the rear of the houses) and take a supply from there just for my neighbour's car charger. Sounds like a can of worms to me.
Lesson learned from this, even if you do have a driveway there's no guarantee you can have a fast charger for your EV.

[Stanley]

I think that's a very fair conclusion Kev from the evidence.
I too have an energy issue.
Not long since BG sent me urgent news that they were offering a fixed price deal that was cheaper than what was expected to be the current price. I looked but couldn't make moss nor sand of it so decided that I was best served by not signing a new contract. Than I see that the cap has been adjusted on supplies and they are going to be cheaper anyway. I still can't understand the finer points but suspect I have been best served by doing nothing and ignoring their offer!

[Stanley]

I haven't sent in a reading for my meters and BG have estimated my usage at £207. I haven't even checked their figures because on Wednesday the gas man cometh to do the definitive fix on my smart meters. They say they are going to change the meters so I would be getting a revised bill anyway, not a lot of point sending my readins in.
Fingers crossed for Wednesday!

[Big Kev]

Make sure you take a reading before the meter man gets there, just in case.

[Stanley]

That thought had occurred to me Kev, but nevertheless thanks for the heads up!

[Stanley]

I improved the shining hour by following Kev's advice, reading my gas and leccy meters and sending them in to the meter reading address he gave me. (Before the men come to change both meters tomorrow.)
Thanks Kev.

[Stanley]

The gas man cometh between 8 and 12 this morning. That means I miss my second sleep.
Originally they were coming on the 27 February between 10AM and 2PM but they changed that without consulting me. And they keep asking me to tell them whether I'd recommend a friend....
I wonder whether this fix will work? This is their third attempt at it!