Energy bills

[star-warrior]

My dual fuel statement arrived this morning, for gas and electricity. I pay by direct debit a set amount each month. Currently, the monthly electricity output cost is £49, and the gas amount changed last month from £63 to £86 per month. I was quite shocked, and telephoned them to ask for a reduction. Together, it would mean a monthly payout of £135 a month from now on.

At the end of the bill, it tells me how my energy consumption per day on this bill and the equivalent period last year.

For electricity,

This bill : 11.45 kWh
Last year : 11.76 kWh

So, I've managed to reduced my electricity use.

For gas

This bill: 57.30 kWh
Last year: 98.64 kWh

I've reduced my gas use by 40%

Most of the gas reduction was to turning down the thermostat from 18 degrees centigrade to 15 degrees centigrade over this winter, otherwise, our gas consumption has been as it used to be.

But, the thing is, the prices over the last year have been really expensive. Whilst my electric bill is in debit by £15.23, my gas bill is in debit by £163.47, even with the 40% reduction in gas usage.

I'm not happy.

 

[gingentleman]

Welcome to the 21st century, Darling. Prices for EVERYTHING are outrageous! Let's have a world revolution! Up with this bullshit we will not put!

 

[racer2438]

just cus you used less does not mean that the servise company does not raise the cost of prices.

it is a trickle affect like a snow ball going down hill.


and you/us the consumers pay all the money for this.


the poor keep getting poor and the rich get fat rich..

 

[metta]

Energy prices in the US will significantly increase over the coming years. The utility companies are trying to do it gradually to prevent people from getting so angry. Lets hope that cleaner energy technology will speed up in its advancement.

 

[metta]

just cus you used less does not mean that the servise company does not raise the cost of prices.

it is a trickle affect like a snow ball going down hill.


and you/us the consumers pay all the money for this.


the poor keep getting poor and the rich get fat rich..

So since you live in Santa Barbara....I would assume that makes you one of the rich.

 

[rareboy]

Remember that you're paying for the high prices from last year still.

And delivery charges will increase as the consumption decreases in order to make up revenue.

Sucks, eh?

But good for you for putting up with 15 degrees celsius.

We installed geothermal last year.

Our combined utilities for 2007/08 were the equivalent of
550 pounds per month....we are hoping to have reduced them by half with the new heating and cooling system.

 

[star-warrior]

At 15 degrees celcius, we had to wear more clothes, not just a t-shirt. All in all, it wasn't that bad, it got cold only for about a week and a bit or so, but it quickly warmed up, thankfully.

It sucks that delivery charges increase, mostly because they are using the same equiptment AFAIK, and also, when one hears how much profit these companies are making during the period of high charging, you'd've thought the drop in raw materials from a high sometime last year would have meant a price drop down the line. Obviously they're still enjoying making a profit out of a service we need, it's like being shot at in a barrel.

 

[bankside]

We pay about $260 (CAD) for gas and electric over the winter months but much less in summer (That is £145, €155, $210 USD, $305 AUD, ¥20 000 etc).

That is actually a discounted price because the government gives everyone a rebate from oil and gas royalties (I live in Alberta). Apparently that is coming to an end though, which would easily push the bill above $300 or even $320.

But 15°C - way too cold! As soon as I read that I remembered back to the fall of communism and that was one of the complaints I remember on TV about Ceausescu in Romania - he made them limit their thermostats to 15°. Ugh is it really coming to this...