British Gas - 35% increase with immediate effect
31 July 2008, 09:08 AM
#32
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Centrica (owners of BG) have announced this morning, profits of £900million for the half year down 20%
31 July 2008, 09:09 AM
#33
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: riding the crest of a wave ...
Posts: 46,493
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
Well yes, obviously that's the case. But it sounds like you're blaming the Government for the utility companies attempting to maximise their profits? If anything, price rises like this will focus the minds of the consumer and force them away from polluting fuel sources, thus achieving exactly what the Government want. If they were still privatised, you'd still be burning cheap/subsidised gas, which is a bad thing, right??
does anyone really believe british gas ,et al are going to do anything more than hand round leaflets on the above subject ( money provided by the government - to print them i mean)
31 July 2008, 09:10 AM
#34
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
31 July 2008, 09:23 AM
#35
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
31 July 2008, 09:26 AM
#36
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whatever happens, i reckon there'll be a big momentum shift towards solar power etc. I know i'm giving it at least some consideration, whereas before it wouldn't have netered my head. I'm sure i'm not alone.
31 July 2008, 09:49 AM
#37
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well yes, obviously that's the case. But it sounds like you're blaming the Government for the utility companies attempting to maximise their profits? If anything, price rises like this will focus the minds of the consumer and force them away from polluting fuel sources, thus achieving exactly what the Government want. If they were still privatised, you'd still be burning cheap/subsidised gas, which is a bad thing, right??
And just to pick you up on the *polluting* fuel sources. If you mean CO2 this is NOT a pollutant but a trace gas (i.e. there isn't much of it!!) that is ESSENTIAL for life to exist. Just an FYI ...
Dave
31 July 2008, 09:50 AM
#38
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: riding the crest of a wave ...
Posts: 46,493
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
It maybe your only option Tel,
Youll not get away wit a 20m windmill strapped on your place - not in uptown Southend
Youll not get away wit a 20m windmill strapped on your place - not in uptown Southend
Last edited by dpb; 31 July 2008 at 10:46 AM.
31 July 2008, 09:53 AM
#40
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you have solid fuel heating you need a really good stove that will stay in overnight so that the house is still warm on the cold winter mornings. I had an open fire with a back boiler and that was a complete PITA. I couldn't have any heat in the mornings until I'd got up and lit a roaring fire and even then it would take a while to heat the house.
We currently have a solid fuel stove that we burn wood on but it takes some doing to get it to stay in overnight. On most of the boats I sell they have central heating run off of stoves running on solid fuel and a good one will stay in for 18 hours or so and do a very efficient job, obviously boats are a bit smaller than houses though
Maybe you should buy a boat? 
I like the idea of solar heating but we live in Yorkshire where the sun only shines twice a year, the idea of a solid fuel Rayburn with back boiler does appeal though, I've seen a very nice blue one in my local stove shop....
We currently have a solid fuel stove that we burn wood on but it takes some doing to get it to stay in overnight. On most of the boats I sell they have central heating run off of stoves running on solid fuel and a good one will stay in for 18 hours or so and do a very efficient job, obviously boats are a bit smaller than houses though
Maybe you should buy a boat? I like the idea of solar heating but we live in Yorkshire where the sun only shines twice a year, the idea of a solid fuel Rayburn with back boiler does appeal though, I've seen a very nice blue one in my local stove shop....
As for solar heating, an ex-GFs family lived near Grantham and they had panels on the roof (installed by previous owners not them). Made a useful contribution to the annual fuel bills even way up there in the frozen north ....
Dave
31 July 2008, 10:03 AM
#41
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Here, There, Everywhere
Posts: 10,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And what profit are you happy them making?Centrica sell Gas to there French customers for far less than they sell it to us. They know the French customers wouldn't stand for it. They also know that the British customer will take it. And take it again, and again.Many old infirm pensioners will die this winter as they can't afford to pay their gas bill. That just can't be right.
31 July 2008, 10:08 AM
#44
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The main reason French gas is cheaper is that they can buy it at a lower price and store it.
We have enough capacity for 13 days of gas storage.
France has enough for 122
So in effect, France can store for the Winter (when gas becomes more expensive) We can't.
So, Foreign companies buy our North Sea Gas on the cheap in the summer and then sell it back to us in the winter.
I've said it beofre and I'll say it again. When we privatised British Gas we were asking for trouble.
We have enough capacity for 13 days of gas storage.
France has enough for 122
So in effect, France can store for the Winter (when gas becomes more expensive) We can't.
So, Foreign companies buy our North Sea Gas on the cheap in the summer and then sell it back to us in the winter.
I've said it beofre and I'll say it again. When we privatised British Gas we were asking for trouble.
31 July 2008, 10:09 AM
#45
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: There is only one God - Elvis!
Posts: 8,328
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
31 July 2008, 10:13 AM
#46
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Here, There, Everywhere
Posts: 10,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
31 July 2008, 10:31 AM
#50
Scooby Regular
We are in the process of taking out a gas fire and fitting a wood burner in our dinning room (Living room already has open fire). The stove place said they have never been so busy and they have as many order now during the summer as they did last autumn/winter, which is there usual busy period.
Apart from the £60-70 a month we were spending on logs, coal, kindling etc, and the hassle involved in coming into a cold winter house and then having to start building a bloody fire, I seemed to spend all my time chopping bloody logs in the rain - which was nice when we lived alone but now our little lad is here the thought of a log/coal burner scares me to death!!
31 July 2008, 10:34 AM
#51
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And I am not convinced that we subsidise the French. We just are forced to pay market rates all through the winter, when France can wait until the following summer to buy gas.
31 July 2008, 10:41 AM
#54
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Talk to the hand....
Posts: 13,331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All this talk about a 'windfall tax' on the suppliers.
Why should lousy NuLabor cash in on the profiteering? What help will that be to anyone? Would be typical of them though.
Why should lousy NuLabor cash in on the profiteering? What help will that be to anyone? Would be typical of them though.
31 July 2008, 10:45 AM
#55
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: God's promised land
Posts: 80,907
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wasn't saying that. Just that gov. policies (from Tory days but exacerbated by current blinkered, short term thinking by Nu Labia) mean that we are in a situation where the needs/wishes of the electorate (i.e. plentiful cheap power/water/etc) are not achievable by the gov. as they don't control them.
Dave
Dave
Yeah but as i said, i don't see how this is the Government's responsibility, not unless you believe in socialism. I want cheaper food, fuel, power, transport etc etc but to what extent do the Government have to subsidise prices when the electorate realise their cost of living is a bit more expensive than they'd like?
Having said that, i'd fully support subsidising pensioners who cannot afford to keep warm. There has to be some social responsibility. But it's an increasing bill - who's going to pay for all the extra pensioners in 20 years time? I think we need a thread about statutory private pension provision!
31 July 2008, 10:51 AM
#56
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: .
Posts: 20,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This situation has arisen because of both parties.
Allowing our energy suppliers to be wholly private companies was always going to end in tears and now it's time to start crying.
There isn't much anyone can do. They have us by the *****. My advice? Emigrate and I am serious.
31 July 2008, 10:54 AM
#57
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Worthing..
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, if it gets translated directly to fuel bill subsidy/winter fuel payments quite a lot I should imagine.
You talk as if "Nu Labour" pocket the cash directly.
If it were used to reduce public borrowing other subsidise some other aspect then I agree it would be wrong - I.e. don't use the money to dig yourslef out of a problem, use it to directly reduce peoples fuel bills.
You talk as if "Nu Labour" pocket the cash directly.
If it were used to reduce public borrowing other subsidise some other aspect then I agree it would be wrong - I.e. don't use the money to dig yourslef out of a problem, use it to directly reduce peoples fuel bills.
31 July 2008, 11:03 AM
#58
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Here, There, Everywhere
Posts: 10,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, if it gets translated directly to fuel bill subsidy/winter fuel payments quite a lot I should imagine.
You talk as if "Nu Labour" pocket the cash directly.
If it were used to reduce public borrowing other subsidise some other aspect then I agree it would be wrong - I.e. don't use the money to dig yourslef out of a problem, use it to directly reduce peoples fuel bills.
You talk as if "Nu Labour" pocket the cash directly.
If it were used to reduce public borrowing other subsidise some other aspect then I agree it would be wrong - I.e. don't use the money to dig yourslef out of a problem, use it to directly reduce peoples fuel bills.
1) £9-12 Billion on an Olympic games no one wanted
2) Billions on an illegal war no one wanted
3) Stop giving free houseing/benefits/education etc to immigrants (this soft touch approach increases immigrantion)
4) Stop giving benefits to Chav's who don't want to work as they always have enough beer money every week thanks to their benefit money.
5) Stop wasting Billions on Foreign aid (Gordon wants to heel the world)
6) Stop wasting Billions on stupid schemes like ID cards.
7) Cut out the Billions wated in red tape
We'd all be far better off.
Last edited by stilover; 31 July 2008 at 11:07 AM.
31 July 2008, 11:05 AM
#59
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 39,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wasn't saying that. Just that gov. policies (from Tory days but exacerbated by current blinkered, short term thinking by Nu Labia) mean that we are in a situation where the needs/wishes of the electorate (i.e. plentiful cheap power/water/etc) are not achievable by the gov. as they don't control them.
And just to pick you up on the *polluting* fuel sources. If you mean CO2 this is NOT a pollutant but a trace gas (i.e. there isn't much of it!!) that is ESSENTIAL for life to exist. Just an FYI ...
Dave
And just to pick you up on the *polluting* fuel sources. If you mean CO2 this is NOT a pollutant but a trace gas (i.e. there isn't much of it!!) that is ESSENTIAL for life to exist. Just an FYI ...
Dave
It is of course quite true that it is in the interests of the utilities to persuade us to use more of their products and I can't understand why it was so difficult to understand that from your original post.
I also agree with F1 in his post about privatisation of the utilities. I think it was a dreadful error to do that and we are now reaping the non rewards for that. The difference in publicly owned companies is that the private ones have to prduce a didvidend for their shareholders as well as the bosses obscene bonuses of course and the excuse of giving the public choice has not worked out at all. Electricity, Gas,water and Rail should still be in the public domain.
As was mentioned, the lack of forward planning in ensuring the ability to store sufficient gas for future use has dropped us into this parlous situation. What was really unbelievable was that we were selling cheap gas to the Continent and having to pay vast sums to buy it back again.
Les
31 July 2008, 11:15 AM
#60
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Talk to the hand....
Posts: 13,331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The vast majority, they would. They're skint.
Of course, that would be the hidden agenda behind such a move. There is ALWAYS a hidden agenda where NuLabor is concerned.