It's always been clear (to me and many others, that is) that national infrastructure for essential utilities should be in public ownership.
In principle I agree, Simon, but having lived through many years of utilities, transport etc. in inefficient and erratic public ownership, this is unlikely to improve things. The only caveat here is that union hegemony is different today, but can't say that governmental control would be anything other that wasteful and hopeless, as it is in most aspects.
I read yesterday that a quarter of electricity prices is made up of government green (or not so green; e.g. smart meters) initiatives. This penalty is much less for gas but that could change. In effect, therefore, at least the prices we pay are in partial governmental control, even if distribution isn't and it's not distribution which is the main problem here.
Many other countries run efficient, publicly owned utilities. It is certainly possible, given the political will.
We've always opted to pay on receipt of a bill so as not to have a pile of cash sitting in the provider's account.
Unfortunately after being repeatedly messed around by our previous provider we switched to bulb at the end of July (doh!) who only accept direct debit (doh!).
My bill for July was £55. I'm somehow already £150 in credit with another £78 due to be paid to them in a few days so I'll have paid almost £300!
If I try to change the monthly payment amount it tells me the minimum payment allowed is £91. Hmm.
Kind of wishing I'd stuck to just paying when I got the bill...
Our 1Yr fix finishes at the end of January, but out of curiosity I went onto our provider's website last week to see how much a new 1Yr fix would be. Our annual bill would jump from £2.9k/yr to £6.8k/yr! Once February comes I think we'll take our chances with the standard Price Cap tariff...
Our 1Yr fix finishes at the end of January, but out of curiosity I went onto our provider's website last week to see how much a new 1Yr fix would be. Our annual bill would jump from £2.9k/yr to £6.8k/yr! Once February comes I think we'll take our chances with the standard Price Cap tariff...
"If your account is in credit by more than your monthly payment amount you can email [email protected] to ask for a refund."
https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115003394031-Getting-a-refund-for-credit-in-your-account
This is what I'll be doing as soon as my credit exceeds my monthly amount (if they're not already broke!)
Not quite. We live in Glasgow, in an old house that swallows heat. And before you ask, the thermostat remains at or below 18C as I can't stand the sensation of central heating. From Oct-Apr we basically wear our full outdoor clothing INSIDE the house! I hate to think what our bills would be if we were the kind of folk who liked to walk around the house in our undies with the thermostat set to 25C!Where do you live, Blenheim Palace?!
Not quite. We live in Glasgow, in an old house that swallows heat. And before you ask, the thermostat remains at or below 18C as I can't stand the sensation of central heating. From Oct-Apr we basically wear our full outdoor clothing INSIDE the house! I hate to think what our bills would be if we were the kind of folk who liked to walk around the house in our undies with the thermostat set to 25C!
In winter we pretty much live in the new part of the house which is 12 years old and consequently stuffed full of insulation.
"If your account is in credit by more than your monthly payment amount you can email [email protected] to ask for a refund."
https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115003394031-Getting-a-refund-for-credit-in-your-account
This is what I'll be doing as soon as my credit exceeds my monthly amount (if they're not already broke!)
…From Oct-Apr we basically wear our full outdoor clothing INSIDE the house! …
Similar situation here. We're currently paying dual fuel £2.5k but our fix ends 1st Dec. A new fix comes in at £6k or £4k for Standard Variable. Standard Variable with price cap it is then....Our 1Yr fix finishes at the end of January, but out of curiosity I went onto our provider's website last week to see how much a new 1Yr fix would be. Our annual bill would jump from £2.9k/yr to £6.8k/yr! Once February comes I think we'll take our chances with the standard Price Cap tariff...