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Twice the Price
5 November 2022 05:22 pmI just got my new gas bill ("We are moving you to our Standard Variable tariff"). The standing charge has gone up by 3p a day, and the unit rate has doubled (and that's the government's 'capped' rate). No wonder people are complaining about energy charges...
Fortunately in my case my annual usage of gas is so relatively low that it doesn't make all that much difference compared to my other regular bills -- the estimate is that the new rate will cost £400 a year as versus the old rate of an estimated £250, whereas the 'cap' is alleged to save 'the average household' £700 over the next six months. (It has been so warm that my central heating has yet to come on at all, which presumably helps... although the fact that I'm currently wearing a thermal vest, two jumpers and a woollen jerkin after setting out to cycle this morning in just the jerkin -- and still overheating -- might help also!)
In consequence I suspect I shall actually have negative gas bills over the next six months as a result of the much-touted £66 per month support payment — although that won't cover both gas and electricity.
Fortunately in my case my annual usage of gas is so relatively low that it doesn't make all that much difference compared to my other regular bills -- the estimate is that the new rate will cost £400 a year as versus the old rate of an estimated £250, whereas the 'cap' is alleged to save 'the average household' £700 over the next six months. (It has been so warm that my central heating has yet to come on at all, which presumably helps... although the fact that I'm currently wearing a thermal vest, two jumpers and a woollen jerkin after setting out to cycle this morning in just the jerkin -- and still overheating -- might help also!)
In consequence I suspect I shall actually have negative gas bills over the next six months as a result of the much-touted £66 per month support payment — although that won't cover both gas and electricity.