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Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 10, 2025, 8:17 am

My charge for both gas and electricity came to 137 pounds for March.
4 bedroom insulated house with double glazing.
How does this compare with our group ?
I have all LED lighting and all new Kitchen white goods which are rated as efficient, and a 35 year old balanced flue boiler which i intend to keep running as it has no maintenance. Switched on for 1 hour periods manually for heat as needed.
I pay in by direct debit, 147 a Month so a bit in credit. Last year they were taking over 200 pounds so i reduced it.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Brickboy on April 10, 2025, 8:35 am, in reply to "Latest energy bill"

£135 a month here: 3 bed Victorian, poorly insulated as the loft conversion is 1980s and all walls are solid.

We have mostly LED bulbs, a combi that is about 6yrs old. Old washing machine and T/dryer, recent FF and no dishwasher.

Whilst we are on domestic stuff - I feel our Sky broadband and basic cable TV is expensive for the carp on the telly. There must be a better deal. How on earth do you go about working out the best TV deal? I hate TV so have no interest, don't really understand what a fire stick or freeview box is and how they work. I'd be very pleased to hear how to get interesting channels (not sport, except athletics, who cares?!) without paying through the nose

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by ChazzyB on April 10, 2025, 9:41 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

It's difficult to measure with oil for heating. Plus I spend about £300 on logs annually, plus £70 on a chimney sweep. March's electricity was £22.29, of which the standing charge was £15.81!

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Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Tonupdave on April 10, 2025, 9:50 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Slightly less Two bedroom bungalow double glazing and cavity wall insulation done free by the council many years ago gas central heating definitely no smart meter both on assessed pensions as have no company pensions .. regards TV just ordinary channels nothing else Sport dosnt exist sport means Football not the hardest sport but gets full coverage and if there is a quiz show and a subject is sport .yes you've guessed football..

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by nek on April 10, 2025, 12:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

junk the TV licence..save £170 or whatever it is now

I use very little lecky,very few white goods,just a washing machine,and LED lights all round.

I send in readings every couple weeks, in fact I use so little they come round and ask to see the meter to "check its working properly"....or if you like,checking I have not rigged it.
One benefit of living in the past I suppose.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 10, 2025, 2:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

My readings were low this time due to having 41 days away this year. i read mine on 30th March and sent in then a meter reader appeared a week later to check seals on the meters. When he saw tow old farts, he gathered we were not tampering with supplies.
Of course, i have many electrical items running 24 hours for the security cameras and lights plus pond and greenhouse heat etc so its not too bad a bill.
I also cancelled my TV licence last year. No one has contacted me and they cannot enter the house to see anything. Should have done it years ago.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by nek on April 10, 2025, 3:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Just don't ever contact them in any way,they'll send a threatening letter once a month,ignore it.

checkout chilijoncarne on youtube for good advice.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 10, 2025, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Don't know what happens now but years ago when I was working on the TV licence section when we visited anyone for non payment I was only ever refused entry once to a house I visited. We couldn't force entry but once in and the tele seen that was enough to proceed to a prosecution if desired.
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 10, 2025, 10:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Den, the tv licence men now are salesmen working for a private company called Capita. They intend to bully you into buying a licence and they get a 20 pound commission bonus. They cannot enter the house unless you allow it. If you are watching DVDs or youtube and many more except live TV, you no longer need a licence. Not sure if the 75 year old exemption is still in place. When my Brother died they kept sending threats of prosecution and warrants so i asked them to issue the warrant to the Crematorium where we spread his ashes

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by laverdabru on April 10, 2025, 10:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Capita - the same company, I believe, that Civil Service & other pension funds were sold on to. Taken me literally years to get answers from them.

Bru

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Jimbo on April 12, 2025, 8:21 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

The pension funds weren't sold on to Capita, they administer the day-to-day admin on behalf of the fund "owners". Capita are still crap though.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 11, 2025, 8:30 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

In my day you only had to see the set working to caution the person of possible prosecution. At first we weren't given a choice, if the person visited didn't have a licence and the set was capable of receiving they were as good as nicked. After I threatened to resign over the stress it caused me the rules were relaxed to allow for discretion and believe me there were some people we visited that really needed help and not prosecution. Some though, usually full of bull sh*t and obviously well able to pay, were not given the opportunity to pop down the next day and pay. I tell you the sad cases really got to me and I later transferred to other duties.
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 11, 2025, 8:39 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

These days Den, if a TV licence seller turns up, many people follow them back to their car so they can pass information to police that the car may not have business insurance. They tend to use their own cars as most are self employed sellers.
Its about time the licence was just scrapped and maybe BBC can advertise to collect money to pay the Savile types they often employ

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 11, 2025, 9:30 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Just been watching news on the BBC regarding one of your often mentioned subjects, the Turkish Barbers that don't do many haircuts, and one of those raided was reported as turning over £150,000 a month. Maybe they could show the BBC how to conduct their business!
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by nek on April 11, 2025, 9:38 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

never admit watching the BBC!!!!

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by laverdabru on April 11, 2025, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Saw that re Turkish barbers, also car washes, nail bars & vape shops.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 11, 2025, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

One thing that surprised me was the police officer's remark to the effect. We raid them today and they're back trading tomorrow. How come if there is criminal activity taken place on the premises can't they just seize the property itself so they can't be back tomorrow or any other day.
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Lannis on April 11, 2025, 6:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Because it's not in the police bosses' long term interest to stop this activity, so they have orders to let it ride.

The goal is not to reduce or eliminate crime; the goal is to fund the establishment of a caliphate, and you need Turkish barbers to launder the necessary money to do that.

Same with grooming gangs. The rest of the world hopes you can get it stopped, but time is running out....

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by nek on April 11, 2025, 9:37 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

They are very crafty, my wife used to buy stamps for the TV licence, after she died I did nothing until the paid for period expired; then I got ever more nasty letters which I ignored, then out the blue got a cheque for 60 odd quid which I binned,they were out to catch me outvia that.All the letters are addressed to "Legal Occupier" as they have no idea who lives at my address. In reality they are demanding money with menaces.
check out chilijoncarne and the blackbelt barrister on you tube. Never talk to the goons just tell them to leave the premises instantly. I bloody detest the BBC.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 11, 2025, 10:46 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

I've no idea how the system works today. In my time the tv licence was £5.00 ( I believe that included radio) and a radio licence on its own £1.00. A separate radio licence was required for a car radio at £1.00.
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Nigel B on April 11, 2025, 12:41 pm, in reply to "Latest energy bill"

£94 per month for a 12 month fixed rate dual gas + electric supply arrangement started last July.

1989 built 4 bed detached house with upgraded "Part P compliant" DG uPVC windows / wood composite doors, 200 mm loft insulation & Rockwool pellet cavity wall insulation retrofitted. 3.5KkW solar panels on south-facing roof that generate around 4000 kWh annually. 18Kw high efficiency condensing system boiler for HW & CH (used 2 hours in the morning, 2 1/2 hours late afternoon/early evening), electric cooking & Led lighting.

Add around £250 for Firelogs for the "Eco Design" compliant multi-fuel inset living room fire fitted last year to replace a useless coal effect gas fire & used daily between Novemeber & March. Mostly works well & has a noticable effect on the rest of the house.

Nigel B.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 11, 2025, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Den, in Exeter road in Town here, we have Glovers barbers who have been in vusiness since the 50s with just 1 man cutting. Handed down business so still run by a John Glover. Tax man came into the shop and asked why he only declared earnings of 500 a week. Thats 10 haircuts at 10 pounds per day. So he said thats what he earns. The taxman told him they were looking as they expected he earnt 250,000 like the Turkish barber next door. John asked just how that is possible for 1 man to do that many haircuts and invited the tax man to sit in the shop and watch for customers. They get a few carrying large bags but they come out without a haircut. 2 out of about 20 new shops have been raided and turned over so far but the rest now have a lookout sitting in a chair on the pavement. The new Turkish barbers have 6 solid brass chairs and the shops have very expensive fixtures but only do about 2 haircuts a day. Putting in 6 chairs makes it look like a busy shop.
I expect Exmouth now has around 60 barbers chairs and about 40 nail bar chairs. Mostly elderly here now with no hair.
They will all get raided one day and recently, 100,000,000 pounds worth of cocaine was captured at Newquay in a boat coming in. Biggest cocaine find ever.
Meanwhile, the police station closed and no police here. They now plan to build a new police station after knocking down the 40 year old one but someone left a window open and bats have got in.
Phase 1 of the new build is now taking place and its a large dark building to rehome the bats before they can knock down the old building. Good old local Councils have really got control of the situation here.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by 6TDen on April 11, 2025, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

You couldn't make it up, could you.
Den

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Lannis on April 11, 2025, 6:43 pm, in reply to "Latest energy bill"

About the same as mine. Eight cents per kilowatt hour for actual electricity, 1200 k-hour per month = $100, plus $68 in fees, taxes, etc = $168/mo.

Lannis

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by ChazzyB on April 11, 2025, 7:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

8c per kiloWatt hour? Bloody luxury!

We in the UK have been completley failed by our politicians over thr past 25-30 years. We have the most expensive power in Europe, by a large margin. Industry has packed up and buggered off where it's cheaper. Mainly China, where it's all coal-fired.

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Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by Lannis on April 11, 2025, 10:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

The price per kw-h may be high, but you guys certainly seem to have a low utility bill, unless you're not counting gas, water, and sewer. Pumping my own well water is counted in the electric bill, the septic system is gravity fed, and we don't have public gas.

Fay and I are still old school about Turn That Light Out!, but I know people with big houses with a $400 monthly bill ....

I'm guessing that the reason that our electricity is cheap is that (A) We backed out of the Green madness in time; still have gas, coal, hydro, and nuclear and (B) Our electric utility is a consumer-owned "co-op"; we buy into it, elect our own directors, and vote on rates, improvements, etc. If the co-op earns money, we get our share back in a check at years end.

Lannis

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by nek on April 12, 2025, 10:08 am, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Over here that would be considered communist by our facist govt.

Re: Latest energy bill

Posted by geoff the bonnie on April 12, 2025, 1:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Latest energy bill"

Lannis, water and sewage is even higher charges than electricity and gas then comes the council tax based on how big your house is. I was lucky when they decided which band was for my house as they just drove along the road and banded all at B. Some houses are 2 bedroom but mine is 4 bedrooms and a garage. No other house has a garage as no where to build one. I live on an end corner house so plenty of room.
Council tax adds about 2100 pounds and water about 1000 a year on meter so i catch a lot in containers to water plants.

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