Energy prices - what 'just' happened??

Energy prices - what 'just' happened??

Author
Discussion

numtumfutunch

Original Poster:

4,753 posts

139 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all

As a serial energy tart I usually jump ship each year to get the best deal

Having just spent the morning on the phone and internet I have realised that there has been a massive increase in energy costs since this time last year

Im currently with Sainsburys who's best dual fuel deal now costs an extra 50% over my current plan

The best available - none of which are companies Ive ever heard of - are coming in at an extra 25% per year

When and why did this happen?
And can I be the first to play the 'brexit' card smile



Hoofy

76,558 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.

bmwmike

7,009 posts

109 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
Drop in GBP is probably a big chunk of it I'd imagine.

I did wonder during the leave/remain campaign why energy security did not feature heavily on the remain side. I think the UK imports most of its energy.


Sheepshanks

32,982 posts

120 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
I'm just coming off a deal that expires tomorrow so set up a aswitch a few weeks ago and was shocked by the increase - cheapest coming up on comparison sites (including the deals they can't switch you to) is about +40%. I always use the same gas and elec consumption figures so I can see a true comparison.

Tariffs are chopping and changing too. I missed out on a "V3" version of a deal as it had been withdrawn and the supplier had gone back to the "V2" version - same unit charges but higher standing charges - made £60 difference

I don't get why various press articles are talking about 15-20% increases (as above, generally blamed on mooted caps) when the increase appears to be far higher.

MitchT

15,955 posts

210 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
Massive jump here - 67%. We were paying Scottish Power £75/month. Deal was coming to an end so we looked for a new one. Still Scottish Power but now £125/month. WTF!

Frankstar123

162 posts

136 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
In the same boat, moving from Sainsbury's fixed deal ending in June is going to cost by +40%.

Been reading around, it appears once Tories started talking about price cap the suppliers have started to push their prices up.

Armitage.Shanks

2,295 posts

86 months

Tuesday 30th May 2017
quotequote all
I took a punt on a 3yr fixed deal earlier this year. It wasn't the cheapest of all the deals but not far off but at least let me know where I'd be for 3yrs. Even though there has been an energy rise I don't expect the provider will have been caught short offering what it did.

On a separate matter, is there a way of challenging excessive charges/metering? Daughter has just come out of a maisonette all electric flat. Since Oct last year she's been paying £33pm and as of this month as she's moved out they want an additonal £600 of what they say is 'used' electricity. On the phone they admitted that can't be right but are now sticking to their guns. I doubt a cannabis farm would use that much especially as there's only one small room plus bathroom and kitchen.

Jambo85

3,329 posts

89 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Here's a graph of Brent Crude in Sterling - so it captures both the Brexit effect and the oil price which has increased (in USD) over the last year.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=c...

Must be part of the story at least - although I also don't recall the end user energy prices plumetting in 2014 smile

nyt

1,812 posts

151 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Jambo85 said:
Here's a graph of Brent Crude in Sterling - so it captures both the Brexit effect and the oil price which has increased (in USD) over the last year.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=c...

Must be part of the story at least - although I also don't recall the end user energy prices plumetting in 2014 smile
Here's a chart of wholesale prices: http://www.energybrokers.co.uk/electricity/histori...
£ / MWh


Eddie Strohacker

3,879 posts

87 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Excellent. Man who PH insists can never become P.M. blamed for energy companies avarice when he becomes P.M. hehe

Jambo85

3,329 posts

89 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
nyt said:
Jambo85 said:
Here's a graph of Brent Crude in Sterling - so it captures both the Brexit effect and the oil price which has increased (in USD) over the last year.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=c...

Must be part of the story at least - although I also don't recall the end user energy prices plumetting in 2014 smile
Here's a chart of wholesale prices: http://www.energybrokers.co.uk/electricity/histori...
£ / MWh
Interesting, thank you. Some big and aparrently unusual peaks over the recent winter.

Hoofy

76,558 posts

283 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Eddie Strohacker said:
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Excellent. Man who PH insists can never become P.M. blamed for energy companies avarice when he becomes P.M. hehe
Well, even threatening it might get them twitchy, surely?

Trabi601

4,865 posts

96 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Yeah, because those Tories would never have a policy on energy price caps...


nyt

1,812 posts

151 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Jambo85 said:
nyt said:
Jambo85 said:
Here's a graph of Brent Crude in Sterling - so it captures both the Brexit effect and the oil price which has increased (in USD) over the last year.

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=c...

Must be part of the story at least - although I also don't recall the end user energy prices plumetting in 2014 smile
Here's a chart of wholesale prices: http://www.energybrokers.co.uk/electricity/histori...
£ / MWh
Interesting, thank you. Some big and aparrently unusual peaks over the recent winter.
I think that those data could have been cleaned better.
Here's a smoother chart: http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/electricity-spot-pr...

I think the point above about fear of a cap is probably pertinent. In addition there seems to be absolutely nothing to stop them charging whatever they like. The large providers can raise their prices knowing that the smaller providers will soon follow resulting in no incentive for users to switch providers.

Hoofy

76,558 posts

283 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Trabi601 said:
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Yeah, because those Tories would never have a policy on energy price caps...
Ok, wrong party but it doesn't really matter. Someone mentions energy cap and the companies increase prices to manage it.

peter tdci

1,775 posts

151 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Eddie Strohacker said:
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Excellent. Man who PH insists can never become P.M. blamed for energy companies avarice when he becomes P.M. hehe
Ironically, it's the Tories who are proposing an energy price cap.

Edit - oops, too late!

romeogolf

2,056 posts

120 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Trabi601 said:
Hoofy said:
Wasn't Corbin talking about capping prices or something? That's why they're moving them up so if they're capped, it doesn't matter to the energy companies.

It's a bit like telling everyone you're going to sell your gold supply before you sell it.
Yeah, because those Tories would never have a policy on energy price caps...
Ok, wrong party but it doesn't really matter. Someone mentions energy cap and the companies increase prices to manage it.
Labour proposed it in 2015 and were laughed at. The Conservatives proposed it in 2017 and are celebrated for helping the 'hard workers'. rolleyes

littlebasher

3,785 posts

172 months

Wednesday 31st May 2017
quotequote all
Frankstar123 said:
In the same boat, moving from Sainsbury's fixed deal ending in June is going to cost by +40%.

Been reading around, it appears once Tories started talking about price cap the suppliers have started to push their prices up.
Likewise, i was shocked by Sainsburys enery current prices and the comparison websites aren't throwing up obvious candidates either.