British Gas to increase their prices.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....-prices-80-month.html

Is it not time that our Government stepped in to either cap energy prices or nationalise all utilities, because how much longer can the long suffering British public remain hostage to these money grabbing foreign owned utility companies?

If this isn't possible, and since it is British Gas who are the first to increase their prices each year, then why don't the majority of British Gas customers leave British Gas and put their gas and electricity needs in the hands of another supplier?

At least this would send them a message.

[emmie]

but not over most things, Mrs T has come in for some fair old shellacking, and it won't ever be over.

[DTCwordfan]

see my table, stew

[Gromit]

Em10,
Richard Branson would say that because he makes a very lot of money running private trains. I don't think his views on nationalisation are objective. And the railways are largely nationalised again, the infrastructure, maintence and ticketing were de-privatised after the Potters Barr crash.

It is fair to blame the prime minister who privatised the utilities for the failure of privatisation. We were told privatisation would result in more competition and cheaper bills. The reality is somewhat different.

[madmaggot]

Before you complain about high energy prices can you honestly say that you use energy sensibly?
Do you dry your washing outside or do you always use a drier?
Do you switch off lights when you leave the room?
Switch off 'standby' items at the switch?
Do you dress for the season or do you expect to be able to wear summer clothes all year round?
Do you use low energy/led light bulbs?
There are many ways to save energy, if you honestly do all that you can but still struggle to pay then yes, complain about the cost. If not then you are the one who is making your bills high!

[anagram]

I pay 13.8 pence stewey, don't know what that equates to in Canadian dollars.

[Gromit]

Em10,

It is fair to say that Mrs T did a lot more to upset some people in her 13 years than Heath managed in his single term. I don't believe that her bad legacy stems from the fact she was a woman, more from her uncaring and divisive policies.

[stewey]

Thanks, DT: I didn't see that at first. That's quite a difference in price between what you and I are paying. Me, 7.5c per KwH: you, 25c per KwH.

[stewey]

Anagram, that's about 23c. Close to the figure in DT's table. Again, a great difference in prices. I would imagine that the main reason for the difference is that we have a lot of hydro-generated electricity whereas you do not.

[tamaris]

I am with N Power, they are so useless at sorting things out, but they WERE cheaper, not now apparantly

[DTCwordfan]

That is correct, stewey, ours is mainly gas generated with some coal and nuclear in the mix, wind beginning to enter the mix. If I remember right it is about 60% gas - whereas we were independent, the UK fields are tiring and we are having to import (Norway, Qatar, a little Russian/Ukrainie), one of the things that has not really happened here is the stimulation through lowering Petroleum Revenue Tax to get the Shetlands/Cape Moray areas towards the Faeroes opened up and its hellish expensive up there.

[DTCwordfan]

what are your domestic gas prices?

[Gromit]

Stewey,

I have just read this about Canada energy.

http://www.cbc.ca/new...lectricity-costs.html

Contrary to another post on here, ypu seem to be benefitting from Green renewable energy while we have costly nuclear and fossil fuel generation.

[Brenden]

Gromit, Heath signed us up to the Common Market in 1970, a very different kettle of fish to what it is today, I would say that Blair and Brown did more damage to this country in the rights they signed away than any other previous Prime minister - (oh nearly forgot and our gold reserve).

[mightyWBA]

Can't believe folks are blaming Thatcher..The "socialists" had plenty of time to re nationalise everything but just sold our nations wealth and assets even more and put us in massive debt.
Gas,electric and water should belong to the nation, not shareholders after a share of fat profits.

[stewey]

Natural gas as of Oct 1st is equivalent to 0.06GBP per cubic meter.

[DTCwordfan]

http://en.wikipedia.o...duction_in_the_UK.PNG

uk electrical generation by source.

[Gromit]

Brendan,

The Conservatives took us into Europe in 1973. The Labour Government gave us a referendum in 1975 and the prime minister wanted us to leave but the British public voted we should stay in. The Conservatives campaigned to stay in Europe, while the Labour Party at that time were anti-Europe.

The Conservatives under Major signed the Masstrict Treaty, if yoy are anti-Europe and all it stands for, Major is your villian of the piece, not Blair.

[emmie]

Richard Branson was right about the railways, British Rail, run down stock, late trains, no investment, and sadly those who think fondly of those times are wearing rose coloured specs.

As to BG well they said months ago they would be raising their prices, i know because i have a letter telling me so. presumably i wasn't the only one who received it, as they have millions of customers.

[madmaggot]

Ah, but Grommit, if all of the criteria for allowing countries to join had been strictly applied then Greece, Spain, etc would not have met same and would not have been allowed to join. The EC would not be in the position of having to support these countries.

[Gromit]

Bit of a contradition there mightyWBA.

// Gas,electric and water should belong to the nation, not shareholders after a share of fat profits. // // I can't believe people are still blaming Thatcher. //

It was Thatcher, to quote another Conservative Prime Minister, who sold the family silver. Which is why huge profits for shareholders have to be made resulting in huge price rises for OAPs and the rest of us.