Somebody was on the radio recently moaning about her mother's bill of ยฃ350 per month. My own is ยฃ110 per month. And I'd wager that my home is heated to higher temperatures and is larger that that person's mother's. My home is well insulated and I'm rigorous in keeping energy costs down where at all possible. Does anyone else get a bit peeved about all this? When younger, my family were not well off they lived in a council flat and never ever ran a car. But they always lived within their means, although I do remember a refrigerator being bought on the never never.
Reducing energy consumption isn't rocket science, but it does need for people to expend some effort and make changes to their lifestyles. Which is one advantage of smart metering in that it can provide to people more information to help tackle things, but it does of course require people to interrogate and use that information intelligently. Ah perhaps I've stumbled on something there................
Extra costs have been included to allow suppliers to help the vulnerable , low income and in debt customers. Which helps those people but penalises the rest who pay more as a result. I suppose its the equivalent of retailers having to charge more to cover for theft. And the Governments windfall taxes will raise more as a result of these high prices, but at the same time they've seen fit to punish pensioners by removing the winter Fuel Payment for most.
If I could afford to put my heating on, my bill would be ยฃ350+, that's governed at 10hrs over the course of a day & on therm 1. I couldn't afford that 3yrs ago & certainly not now. I actually took the fuses out 3yrs ago in the Feb. I was brought up to live within my means (and to never leave lights on in an empty room!), so I owe nothing to anyone & that is the way it has to stay. All lights are LED, hot water is an immersion, governed by me. Air fryer, no oven & an induction plate for speed. I must be a rocket scientist! But, that frugality still costs me ยฃ90. I can't afford to pay by DD, as I don't want E.ON dipping in at price change time halfway through my month & maybe leaving me in the red. I keep being contacted about a smart meter, I don't need one, as nothing will be lost to me at the great switch off & I am happy to take my reading & fill in online. I know exactly what my bill will be before E.ON let me know.
BTW, I do get peeved, when folk naysay! Will add, I'm disabled, vulnerable, actually have Reynaud's amongst other things (not elderly yet, but getting closer!), I don't get help, my bill isn't high enough. ๐คฃ Thinking about it, my parents did me wrong, I could have gone into debt, been warm & got help or not even have to pay it back.
BTWA, Seems I had a very similar upbringing to you.