Cheaper Electric and Gas bills
Cheaper Electric Bills
UK consumers have saved approximately £78 a year each since the deregulation of the UK Electricity market, according to the latest figures from the National Audit Office.
Energy Minister, John Battle, claimed the four million customers that changed supplier were saving money as competition was driving down prices and that cheaper electric bills were here to stay.
However, he said there was still room for improvement. In the past poor selling techniques, involuntary transfers and misleading sales pitches are still preventing customers from changing supplies. But he went on to say that this has massively improved in the last couple of years but many UK Electricity customers have yet to change providers away from the main UK Suppliers like Eastern Electric and Npower.
There are now some great alternative Electricity suppliers offering a high levels of professionalism with far better and more modern customer service backup. Every day hundreds of people are looking to save money moving to such providers. We aim to offer you a brief insight to the products and services on some of those companies such as the winner of this years Which Magazine Utility Warehouse
THE UTILITY WAREHOUSE
The Utility Warehouse Discount Club is owned by Telecom Plus PLC, with a current turnover of over £278 million they are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Utility Warehouse currently supply over 300,000 homes and businesses throughout the UK and provide their members with great value, great savings and the best possible customer service. Perhaps it’s not surprising that in a recent survey, over 94% of Utility Warehouse customers said they would recommend the to a friend. This was the highest rating ever recorded.
You may not have heard of the Utility Warehouse Discount Club before, as they do not advertise. Instead, they rely on satisfied customers letting their friends and family know about the great value services they deliver. The Utility Warehouse are very different to other suppliers. They don’t have any high street shops and their systems are very efficient. And because (unlike their competitors) they don’t waste money on expensive advertising campaigns on TV or in the National Press, they can afford to charge their customers less than they do for the same services. The Utility Warehouse don’t do introductory offers to entice new customers that suddenly go up in price after a few months. All their members benefit from consistently good value and great customer service at all times, for as long as they remain a customer.
Is Cheaper Electricity a thing on the past ? I am begining to think so . Latest reports suggest that homes in the UK should brace themselves for steep increases in their fuel bills, Britain’s energy regulator warned recently. Ofgem went onto say they feared a crisis in Russian gas supplies will ‘push up prices’ in the next few years.
The warning will worry thousands of households, particularly pensioners who are often forced to choose between heating and food, and families with young children who cannot afford to keep warm in the winter months.
The average gas and electricity bill, known as ‘dual fuel’, has more than doubled in the past five years from £580 to £1,240 a year – an increase of nearly 115 per cent.
Mr Buchanan said he feared that bills could climb even higher due to Europe’s growing dependence on gas supplies from overseas, mainly Russia. The country’s giant Gazprom accounts for a third of western Europe’s gas imports.
Last night, Mr Buchanan said: ‘Gas scarcity in Europe could push up prices for British consumers and he urged customers to look at new low cost providers like www.betterbills.net and others. He said “ in todays toughening market place consumers must look towards both using less and shopping around for their energy “ He went on to mention that savings of 20% were not uncommon and customers now have a wide range of products and services available to them.
And he said that he had ’serious concerns’ about Russia and Turkmenistan’s ability to deliver the gas Europe needs – and that problems could begin in just six years. The regulator’s research shows Europe could be affected by gas shortfalls of 41billion cubic metres by 2015, equivalent to two-fifths of Britain’s annual consumption.
This is largely because delays are expected to six projects aimed at delivering higher output, such as the giant Shtokman field in Russia’s Barents Sea. In addition, there are question marks over the timing of three pipelines needed to deliver gas to Europe: the Nord Stream and South Stream links, and an EU-led project called Nabucco.
The Citizens Advice Bureau has already reported a sharp rise in the number of households contacting it for help. Between May and September, the number of those with ‘fuel debts’ jumped nearly 50 per cent compared to the same period last year.
One family, from Warwickshire, told the charity they are paying £30 a week in electricity – about 20 per cent of their income – forcing them to cut back on essentials.
Chief executive David Harker said the figures are particularly worrying because winter has not even started.
David Hunter, an analyst at the energy consultancy McKinnon & Clarke, warned that millions of families are facing a nightmare battle to pay their fuel bills if they climb even higher.
‘The long-term future for energy bills is that they are going to cost more and more,’ he said.
‘People who are already struggling to pay the bills should be paying less, not more. Any future rises are going to be very difficult.’ He also called for the ‘Big Six’ energy firms – including British Gas and Scottish Power – immediately to cut their annual bills by £120 . Despite wholesale prices for gas and electricity more than halving over the last year, energy giants have only passed on modest cuts.
Production at existing gas fields is expected to slump from 600billion cubic metres to 400billion cubic metres by 2020, according to industry estimates. In addition, growing demand from China could divert gas east , this and the additional threat of new political frictions between Russia and Ukraine, which have triggered supply cuts in recent years will push pieces higher still.
As part of our ongoing efforts into cutting electricity bills we reccomend spending some time this winter up in your attic. Insulating your loft could save you around £150 a year on your fuel bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust, so act now before the weather gets really cold. Start by examining the wood in your loft for things like damp and woodworm. If you spot anything that concerns you, call in an expert, unless you’re confident you can do the work yourself.
Traditional types of loft insulation, such as mineral wool, can irritate the skin and eyes unless encased in silver foil, so you’ll need to wear gloves, goggles, a dust mask and overalls when handling them – follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Much better are eco alternatives, such as those made from sheep’s wool, recycled newspapers or plastic bottles.
Before buying insulation, measure your loft’s floor joists and try to get insulation that’s the same width to avoid having to do lots of cutting and fitting. Alternatively, buy insulation granules, which can be poured into any space. When joining pieces of insulation, make sure you butt the edges together.
The recommended depth for mineral-wool insulation is 270mm, but other insulation materials may require different depths, so check the packaging or with the manufacturer. You don’t have to start from scratch if you already have insulation in place – just put the new stuff on top. Leave a gap of around 25mm between the eaves and insulation to let air circulate, and leave some space around things like recessed ceiling lights. Any wiring should be placed on top of the insulation to stop it from getting too hot.
The loft hatch can get particularly cold, so cut a piece of insulation to fit, put it in a bin bag to keep it neat and tidy, and fix it to the back of the hatch. If your loft isn’t boarded, play safe and lay down some boards before starting to insulate.
Cavity wall insulation – what’s it all about?
Not a lot of people know that around a third of all the heat lost in an un-insulated home is through the walls? Insulating cavity walls reduces heat loss and can save you around £115 a year on your fuel bills. ( check out lagging your loft when you finished reading this and save another £150 there too!! )
If your home was built from 1920 onwards, the chances are that its external walls are made of two layers with a small gap or `cavity’ between them. This means they are `cavity walls’.
Insulating your cavity walls means filling that gap – with very good reason.
- Why insulate your cavity walls?
- What could you save?
- Could cavity wall insulationn work for your home?
- How do I get cavity wall insulation?
- Where can you go for more advice?
Why insulate your cavity walls?
Cavity wall insulation is an effective way to save energy and money at home. A well insulated house keeps warmth exactly where you need it – indoors.
So, insulating your cavity walls will help you to heat your home more efficiently. Using less energy reduces carbon dioxide emissions (CO2): one of the biggest causes of climate change. You will also save money on your bills too.
Cavity wall insulation can also help to reduce condensation inside the house if it is a problem on external walls.
Find out how cavity wall insulation works
What could you save?
| Measure | Annual saving per year (£) | Installed cost £ | Installed payback | CO 2 saving per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation | Around £115 | Around £250 | Around 2 years | Around 610kg |
These are estimated figures based on insulating a gas-heated, semi-detached home with three bedrooms. The installed cost includes the subsidy available from the major energy suppliers under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT); the typical unsubsidised installed cost is around £500
Cavity wall insulation is so cost effective that it will pay for itself over and over again. The better insulated your home, the less energy you need to keep it warm – and the more money you’ll save.
By insulating your cavity walls you could cut your heating costs and, by saving energy, your household will produce less CO2. So, insulating your cavity walls is a great way to help fight climate change.
There are grants and offers available to help pay for cavity wall insulation – you can search our grants and offers database to see what’s available or call your local advice centre free on 0800 512 012, they’ll be happy to help.
Could cavity wall insulation work for your home?
Generally speaking, your home will be suitable for cavity wall insulation if:
- its external walls are unfilled cavity walls.
- the masonry/brick work of your property is in good condition.
- your cavity is at least 50mm wide
If your home was built in the last 10 years it is likely that the cavity is already insulated. Some walls exposed to driving rain can also be unsuitable for cavity wall insulation. In all cases if you’re thinking about cavity wall insulation, always check with a registered installer who will assess whether your home ticks all the right boxes. Your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre can put you in contact with a registered installer – just call 0800 512 012.
In the meantime, find out how to identify whether you have cavity walls.
Or, if you’re sure your home is not suitable for cavity wall insulation, why not think about solid wall insulation?
Did you know?
An un-insulated home loses around a third of its heat through its external walls. If every UK household that is suitable for cavity wall insulation installed it, we could save around £690 million and nearly 4 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
How do you get cavity wall insulation?
Filling cavity walls is not a job you can do yourself. Installation must always be carried out by a registered installer. Find out how to get cavity wall insulation installed.
What is a registered installer?
We consider a registered installer for cavity wall insulation being one that is a member of any one of the following organisations:
- The National Insulation Association (NIA)
- The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA)
- The British Board of Agrement (BBA)
Two key things to look out for when considering an installer:
- They sign up to a code of professional practice like those provided by the NIA
- The installation is guaranteed for 25 years by CIGA.
For these installers, the job is simple, quick – and makes no mess. Typically, a home will take around two hours to insulate, depending on how big your house is and how accessible its external cavity walls are. Watch our video to see how it’s done.
Find out all about installation: how cavity wall insulation is installed, who will install it – and how a grant or offer could help with the costs.
Where can you go for more advice?
Call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for free, impartial, one-to-one advice on saving energy at home.
If you are interested to know more about cavity wall insulation our advisors will be able to help you with any questions you might have. They can explain any practical issues and can put you in touch with local installers. A registered installer will assess whether your home is suitable for cavity wall insulation.
We’ll also tell you about any grants and offers available to help with your planned home energy improvements. So, it pays to call freephone 0800 512 012.
- Ofgem Regulator for Britain’s gas and electricity industries.
- Consumer Focus On 1st October energywatch merged with Postwatch and the Welsh, Scottish and National Consumer Councils to form Consumer Focus, the new champion for consumers’ interests in England, Scotland, Wales and, for post, Northern Ireland.
- National Grid The company that operates and maintains much of the UK’s electricity network.
- Association of Electricity Producers The AEP represent the companies that generate electricity in the UK.
- Energy Networks Association The representative company for electricity and gas distributors in the UK.
- Energy Retail Association The ERA is formed of all of the major UK gas and electricity suppliers, who work together to ensure that consumers obtain maximum benefits in the energy field.
- Green Electricity Marketplace This website provides details of all the green energy tariffs in the UK, and explains the pros and cons of all that are available.
- Energy Saving Trust Help and advice on energy efficiency.
- National Energy Action Campaigning for warm homes. NEA develops and promotes energy efficiency services to tackle the heating and insulation problems of low-income households.
- Centre for Sustainable Energy Promoting sustainable energy policy and practice.
- Carbon Info Carbon-info.org provide advice on sustainable living, and eco-friendly savings and investments. They also campaign for government action on global warming and climate change.
- Envirowise Envirowise is a government programme that delivers free, confidential environmental advice to UK businesses, enabling them to improve profitability while reducing environmental impact.
- Business Cost Consultants Independent firm of utility consultants specialising in managing energy and water costs, consumption and emissions for businesses spending more than £50,000 per annum on their utilities.
- www.noteservice2010.com
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
- If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).
- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
- Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £65 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
- Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and we’ll give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £300 a year on your household energy bills.
- Treat your self to a Cash Back Card from the utility warehouse ( UK only ) and save 5% on a host of purchases including , B&Q , Argos and Sainsbury.
A slideshow of photos that I have taken over the last two to three years or so, at car shows across europe.
Music is a snappy little track entitled “electric car” from “They Might Be Giants”, enjoy, and maybe cast a thought to the fact that only one of these cars shown today is available to buy !
Duration : 0:3:19
This is a film clip of two females assembling, unfolding a three (3) wheel electric car. The car can be fashioned as either a convertible with side doors or as a front entrance car with full cover for the passenger compartment. The car can be folded up for storage. Presumable it is an all electric drive vehicle for ease of maintenance and to eliminate the the issue of cranking the start motor of the combustion engine of the day. Anyone know more about this vehicle, please send me a message or comment with what you know.
Another electric car similar to this has 4 wheels, is all electric, with a front entrance door. Jay Leno has one. It is called the Baker Electric.
Duration : 0:0:45
DigInfo – http://movie.diginfo.tv –
Related Link:
http://www.eliica.com/
With hybrid cars gaining popularity with manufacturers and consumers alike, Keio University have developed a prototype electric car which can reach speeds in excess of 370 km/h. This version of the car is able to go from zero to 100km/h in 4 seconds, and using Lithium-Ion batteries can travel 200km. Each of the cars 8 wheels are connected to an electric motor which can deliver a combined 640hp. The car is not yet being produced in commercial quantities but the projected price of the first run of cars is approximately US$255,000 each.
Duration : 0:1:18
