Fuel Poverty.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Rocky, My comment was only on the water, i agree with you on the heating front, and set to get worse when this shower do away with the winter fuel allowance. This allowance is not too important for me, but certainly is for many others KT

[vic mcclymont]

The trouble with energy in the UK the greens have taken over control of the supply chain.
We pay to subsidise the installation of the most inefficient machines known to man -----------The wind turbine. When they are generating it costs twice as much per Mega Watt hour to purchase from them than it does from a power station.
They also require back-up (which we have to pay for) when the wind isn't blowing.
So we pay for the gas powered stations to remain idle and we pay when they are in use.
|Many people quote an EU directive wrongly for the planned reduction in coal fired power stations. The EU did raise the issue of these stations across the EU in 2008. Tony Bliar signed us (the UK) up to implementing the plans without any plans on how he would replace the redundant power stations.
Germany didn't sign up and is now building 23 coal fired stations and were closing ours.

Don't hug a Green, whack them.

[j.sabourn]

What is the old age pension now. Mine stopped at when I started to receive in 2002. What I get would be about 40 percent off for fuel and gas bills, according to initial post. As like a lot of people out here I have a few solar panels on roof which give a bit of relief, but would need many more to be self sufficient. When we did live in England the old age pensioners did get some relief from the government, but as I was not an aged pensioner then I am unsure what it was. Regards John Sabourn.

[Red Lead Ted]

Who your provider is at present the big 5 as they are known have all put up there prices. I got mine capped on a duel fuel online deal at 2% from January this year to Jan next year and my monthly payments have increased by 15% when i contacted Eon they have put it down to the government green tax plus a general increase of wholesale gas. There is an old saying be nice to the people you meet on the way up, Because you will meet the same people on the way down. This country and consecutive governments don't give a hoot for the ordinary guy there pockets are doing just fine. Martin Lewis who is a t.v. expert on these issues apologised on his website 2 weeks ago for encouraging people to cap there prices and it was not a good time to switch .That was in December. Anyone with British gas will get hammered over the next 12 months but that will only be followed by the rest of them in a short time. We are all in it together remember. We just gotta bite the bullet its out of our hands. The U.K. Has just lost its triple A credit rating, Downgraded to double A, The significance of this will be felt by millions of mortgage payers and big and small business's who rely on the banks over the last 2 years this lot have got left , The bank of England will have no choice shortly other than to increase the interest rate. Its just another aspect of bad management on this coalitions part. Everyone will end up in fuel poverty by the end of this year. I call for a vote of no confidence in this coalition they couldn't run to the shi*house let alone a government. Terry.

[robpage]

Trouble is Terry what do you replace them with , I think Eastleigh by-election on Thursday might be interesting , that should be a good opinion poll . I think for Labour to come back they may need the other Milliband without Balls

[happy daze john in oz]

If VAT is more than 5% how come you only pay 5% on fuel bills?
A report by a British university last year stated that wind turbines are the least cost effective way to generate electricity. Wind below 15 knots or over 45 knots and they cannot be used. The cost of production, instalation and maintainance makes it the most costly way to produce electricity.
We all have water meters here in Oz and water is one of the most expensive commodities we use. Not the actual cost of the water but the associasted charges for delivery and sewerage use. Many of us now have tanks, I have two of 2500 litres, empty last week but one 20 minute deluge and they were overflowing.

[Jim Brady]

What is the old age pension now. Mine stopped at when I started to receive in 2002. What I get would be about 40 percent off for fuel and gas bills, according to initial post. As like a lot of people out here I have a few solar panels on roof which give a bit of relief, but would need many more to be self sufficient. When we did live in England the old age pensioners did get some relief from the government, but as I was not an aged pensioner then I am unsure what it was. Regards John Sabourn.

John,firstly the heating allowance from the government is £200. a couple recieve that between them or a person living on their own would get that.A person over 80 is paid £300.this is usually paid Nov/Dec.My pension is £183.pw having always worked its the basic plus all the add ons that we paid into like Graduation Pension etc.This government have come up with a great idea they are going to make it a basic payment of £140pw for everyone this will make the likes of me £43pw worse off.Obviously it wont affect current pensioners like me but that is the plan for the future
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

I have just recieved my New Pansion for 2013/.14.
.
Basic State Pension........................................... ...........£110.15
PRE 97 ADDITIONAL STATE PENSION....................... ....£90.97
LESS CONTRACTED OUT DEDUCTION [COD]OF ...........£76.49
TOTAL PAYABLE........£14.48
GRADUATED RETIREMENT BENEFIT...............................£6.77

.
.The amount each week is .........................................£131.40
.
£131.40p is my weekly pay after paying in for 50 years.
I do not understand the figures above.

It is an increase of £4,45p a week over last year., BUT .
AFTER PAYING 20%TAX ON THAT IT IS ONLY WORTH £3. 40p. They give with one hand and take back with the other.
Cheers
Brian

[Jim Brady]

Brian,so the idea of a £140 pw standard for all hands would be better for you.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Keith Tindell]

Brian, My pension very similar, but you havnt mentioned income tax, which like me you are probably paying the tax on the old age pension on your occupational pension, which means its actually worth even less!!! KT