Energy price rises

[hifi_dave]

Here we go again, the foreign owned energy companies are ripping us off to subsidise the bills in their own countries.

How/why are they allowed to penalise us at 7-10% increase when the cost of living index is nowhere near this ridiculous figure ? Energy costs are falling around the world and we are paying throught the nose.

Unfortunately, there is no real competition for these utilities, so they can charge what they want unless the government intervenes. Our own bills have rocketed from an insignificant amount to £2.5K in just a few years..

In the US, utilities are not allowed to be owned by foreign companies, meanwhile in the good ol' UK, pensioners are dying from Hyperthermia or starving to death. Nice choice !!!

[Audio Al]

Our government wont do diddly squat about it

All that extra revenue and tax ,

I bet they are rubbing their hands together

[Yomanze]

Here we go again, the foreign owned energy companies are ripping us off to subsidise the bills in their own countries.

How/why are they allowed to penalise us at 7-10% increase when the cost of living index is nowhere near this ridiculous figure ? Energy costs are falling around the world and we are paying throught the nose.

Unfortunately, there is no real competition for these utilities, so they can charge what they want unless the government intervenes. Our own bills have rocketed from an insignificant amount to £2.5K in just a few years..

In the US, utilities are not allowed to be owned by foreign companies, meanwhile in the good ol' UK, pensioners are dying from Hyperthermia or starving to death. Nice choice !!!

Centrica (parent company of British Gas) made £350 million profit in the first six months of 2012, which is a 22% increase on last year's figures... thus, it's just f**king robbery and greed...

[hifi_dave]

I don't remember the prices being cut when energy prices went down. Maybe that's because we fixed our prices as recommended by 'The money saving expert'. All I know is we are now paying £2.5K and it's going up 9.7% !!! If it did go down for a week or two, by how much ?

These constant, mind numbing increases are a relatively new phenomenon, as rises used to be no more than cost of living catch ups, now they are huge to pay the share holders' massive bonuses. The major share holders can't go wrong - they raise the prices by 9.7% which gives them huge extra profit and so their bonuses increase. Meanwhile, poor old Joe or Jean round the corner are having to decide between eating or heating.

In the US, the utilities are never foreign owned and the rises are limited. Here, they can charge what they feel like and we have no option but to pay. I would like to know how much they pay in France or Germany ?

[Ashmore]

As consumers with effectively no choice we are at the mercy of companies whose priority is shareholder value. Doesn't seem like the ideal template for a fair society to me.

[chris@panteg]

Prices were cut ? Did I miss that ? Well we are all in this together !

Does anyone here have a wood burning stove ? Might be time to invest in one , another hard winter on the cards .

[Wakefield Turntables]

buy shares in these companies and get inflation linked dividends. That might get you some of your money back

[StanleyB]

I started investing in some potential energy saving appliances and ideas several years back after seeing the energy costs go up. Even my old kettle was swapped for one that heats up just enough water for one cup of tea. And all the taps in the house now have a thermostat. Added together they make a noticeable difference to my yearly total savings. But since I work from home I can offset some of the heating and electricity cost against the business. Unfortunately not everyone is in that kind of position.

[daytona600]

Generate your own energy Put a pv solar system on your roof
5grand for a 4kwp installed system
Never get a bill again in your life

[Rare Bird]

One less pint of beer in the pub at the weekend jobs a good un