The cost of living... what can we do?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Aug 26, 2022.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Have you not noticed the trend yet though? The price goes up 3 to 5 weeks before the next energy price "cap" is announced.... so those gambling on futures will drive prices up so their pals in the generation sector can go with the begging bowl to get the "cap" raised yet again.... once the new "cap" is set, prices tumble. I use quotation marks here as it is anything but a cap!
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I thought the wholesale price had come down.
       
    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      It has, but watch what happens as we head toward the next major price cap review
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Surely the wholesale price is a worldwide price.
        I cant see the world price altering just because the UK is adjusting its price cap.:scratch:
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          You'd have thought that would be the case, but last year it did it both ahead of March and again ahead of October. Either way, we are being had.
           
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          • gks

            gks Total Gardener

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            I have been saying that for years.

            Linking electricity to the cost of gas should be scrapped immediately. I would also like to see energy tariffs that is currently used in other countries, Thailand being one.

            Residential properties in Thailand are priced on your monthly consumption, so for a house in Thailand that uses less than 150kWh per month, the tariff is as follows.

            First 15kWh = 2.3 Baht/kWh
            Next 10kWh = 2.9 Baht/kWh
            Next 10kWh = 3.2 Baht/kWh
            Next 65kWh = 3.6 Baht/kWh
            Next 50kWh = 3.7 Baht/kWh
            Next 250kWh = 4.2 Baht/kWh

            Service charge of 8.1 Baht per month

            Residential properties exceeding 150kWh per month

            First 150kWh = 3.2 Baht/kWh
            Next 250kWh = 4.2 Baht/kWh
            Over 400kWh = 4.4 Baht/kWh

            Service charge 38 Baht per month

            Time of use tariff, peak 9.00am to 10 pm then off peak, option 1
            Peak 5.1 Baht/kWh
            Off 2.6 Baht/kWh

            Service charge 312 Baht per month

            Option 2

            Peak 5.7 Baht/kWh
            Off 2.6 Baht/kWh

            Service charge 38 Baht per month.

            £1 GBP to Thai Baht = 40.8

            I know you have to take into account the wages in Thailand are considerably less than ours, but I do like how they have more tariff bands.

            I always see my trips abroad as educational, 14 years ago I even put my kids into a Thai school for a day. I took them out of school for 10 days and as part of the homework set by the teacher, what could we adopt or them to make our countries and lives better. I have come to the conclusion over the years that the way the UK is being run, sucks.
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              I just bought 4 muffins at the service station, 6 months ago they were £1, today £1.89, ,you can't tell me they are costing nearly double to make.

              Profiteering is one thing this country does well, I knew there was something we must be a world leader at.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                We have been ripped off for as long as I remember, decimilsation, going metric, EU food mountains being dumped on the third world to artificially raise food prices in the uk, Euro ERM, petrol crises, wars, foot and mouth, covid, brexit, crap budgets, in fact any event gives them an excuse to sneak up prices.
                 
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                • noisette47

                  noisette47 Total Gardener

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                  And gardening...despite the recent mania for growing weeds, as a nation, the Brits are still streets ahead :biggrin:
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    It's a good idea to have variable energy rates. To be fair they would have to be means tested, poor large families need more energy than say a well off couple both working with no kids. Somehow I can't see that happening.
                     
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                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      I cant see why it would need to be means tested.
                      The more you use the more you pay, it would be an incentive for people to cut down on energy.

                      Its a bit like council tax, the bigger the house the higher the banding.

                      I suppose some kind of rebate scheme could be used for those who are least well off and on income support already.
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        I agree as it gets complicated with means testing and rebates. What I was trying to get at is the current Cap system benefits everyone including the well off who don't need to consider turning down their thermostats.
                         
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                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                          Well I'm afraid that is life, not worth being well off if you just end up getting penalised all the time.
                          I've never liked the idea of some people getting something cheaper than others.
                          That's why we have a benefits system.:smile:
                           
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                          • Fat Controller

                            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                            Oh, they probably do.... There was a pub on the TV news over the weekend who used to pay something in the order of £36k per year for energy. When government support is due to end, that was due to rise to £138k... even with the current cap, it is £96k. Now, I know that a pub and a bakery are two different things, but bakery ovens are huge and I am guessing that they are not fuelled by fairy farts.
                             
                          • Fat Controller

                            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                            If they don't, they won't be well off for long - - unless of course they have shares in energy generation
                             
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