Gas bills to soar over next 12 months
June 24, 2008 at 3:45 am
If you thought that your last gas bill was burning a hole in your pocket, you may be discouraged to learn that bill prices are set to soar even higher over the next 12 months.
The problem comes as a direct result of a surge in gas wholesale prices. This is where the gas companies buy their own gas from, which they in turn supply to the consumer at a higher cost. Because the buying prices have soared, it is inevitable that their customers are going to have to make up for it.
According to The Guardian, the rise in gas bills is expected to rocket by up to 43%, increasing the average annual bill by £360 per household. Combined with high electricity prices, this will constitute an average total energy bill of £1,410.
The gas price rises are seen as a direct response to the recent rises in the price of oil, as they were announced the day after the price of oil shot up to $139 a barrel, the highest price in history. In addition to this, the new demand for gas from growing Asian economies is thought to be pushing the prices up even further.
With all of the increases, the poor are sure to be the hardest hit. Fuel poverty is an increasing concern across the country, and the huge rises that we are seeing are certain to compound the problem even further. The news will leave many customers crossing their fingers and hoping that they do not see any more rises in their bills before the winter months close in.
Foreigners not selling the UK gas anymore
June 17, 2008 at 2:52 pm
It’s not news to any of us now to hear that fuel prices are going through the roof. The roof is going to be blown off soon and we’re all going to be cold. Foreign gas and oil suppliers are now starting to refuse to sell energy to the UK, which is only set to make the prices go even higher.
Gas prices have gone up by a frightening amount in the past year and that’s been the same all across Europe. The Germans have seen a 9.5% rise, in France a bit more with 12% but in the UK it’s 13.6%. However, when the UK firms have been approaching foreign suppliers they are finding a closed door awaiting them. There are other major concerns too, one of which is when we do get some gas we can only store it for 13 days, which is about 6 times less than the likes of Germany; the other is that hundreds of jobs will soon be at risk in the industry over here.
The main gas suppliers in the UK, including British Gas and Scottish Power, have appealed to the European Commission to get the strong-hold loosened so that trade can be fairer and the European giants, such as the German company RWE and E.on and the French EDF, can be more supportive of what is not just a European but also a world concern. The North Sea gas supply won’t last forever so it seems the UK will have to look further afield to Asia in the future.
Vulnerable customers to get help with fuel bills
June 10, 2008 at 2:25 am
The Government estimates that 2.5 million households are in fuel poverty (officially defined as spending more than 10% of household income on fuel bills) whilst Energywatch states that the number is closer to 4 million. Regardless of who is right, the fact remains that many of the most vulnerable in our society are unable to heat their homes properly, for fear of the large bills that they will incur, an issue made worse by the double digit rises imposed by the main energy providers earlier this year.
The Government announced last week that it would be introducing a package of measures to combat the crisis, including:
- New legislation to allow the somewhat controversial data-sharing between energy providers, whereby the energy companies can be advised of who the poorer families are, including these on certain benefits, to ensure that they get the cheapest tariffs. The director general of Age Concern feels that the proposal, although controversial, is wholly justified but a spokesperson for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau said that people were naturally concerned about this sort of information being made available.
- 3000 households will take part in a trial scheme whereby those applying for heating grants are referred to their energy company for advice on the best tariff.
- Funding will be made available for the Ofgem/CAB public awareness campaign on what help is available for those in fuel poverty.
- £3 million already available for energy efficiency schemes will be ear marked for low income families wishing to generate their own power by means of heat pumps.
Help the Aged welcomed the news but stated that the measures did not go far enough in dealing with the “looming fuel poverty crisis”.
Gas from grass
June 2, 2008 at 3:51 pm
It’s a question high on the agenda for governments around the world: how can we run cars and other oil-reliant machinery without the actual use of oil? One day it will seem obvious but for now it’s a matter of thinking up new ideas and trying out new initiatives. The latest idea has come from researchers at the University of Aberystwyth, who are keen to promote the use of ryegrass as a source of energy to create gas.
The ryegrass is one of a few natural sources used to create bio fuels, which are leading the way in environmentally sound alternatives to oil. The ryegrass is turned into a bio-ethanol, and as little as 11 hectares worth could run a London bus for a year. There is particular excitement around ryegrass because, unlike its bio-fuel competitors such as Willow and Miscanthus, the grass grows all year round and is easier to grow in different types of soil in the UK.
Farmers love growing grasslands. It’s not only an easy thing to do but it’s great for soil erosion and it’s a source of food for their livestock. But ryegrass is something much more encouraging for them and it could result in a huge surge in grass growth and a much needed boom in farming.
The USA are already very skilled at using crops such as grass to create bio-fuel and it looks likely that the UK will follow. The University of Aberystwyth has now merged with the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research so it looks as though this is something scientists, farmers and the rest of us will be seeing much more of very soon.
