Burnham reducing energy bills?

WhatThe
WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,068 Championing
in Money and bills

I have been charged 61p VAT on my latest gas bill. The standing charge alone is more than four times what I'll pay for my fuel use! We used to pay zero standing charges..

Removing an already very low VAT from energy bills will not help consumers like myself, only those who can afford to use plenty all year round!

Am I being ungrateful? Is anyone here going to benefit much from this policy? Will it reduce inequality? 🤔

Comments

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 5,085 Championing

    I would suggest it is more a gesture than much help @WhatThe

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,068 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1142590#Comment_1142590

    A bit of an empty one IMO.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 6,068 Championing

    As Sheffie would say, he needs to touch grass!

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 3,303 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1142594#Comment_1142594

    Nah then thee! That's ma line!

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Community Member Posts: 1,470 Championing

    My bills have rocketed down since the announcement, I’m wallowing in 1p’s all around me😂😂On a serious note, the summer bills are getting higher than the winter bills. Mine starts at £1.30 with standing charges before I use anything. Maybe get rid of Ofgem first for letting them increase it so much.

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,495 Championing

    It's certainly a cheap way of coming across as generous, quite convenient from their point of view

    Most people associate "VAT" with "20%" so I guess those who don't think any deeper will instinctively just think: "oh wow that's quite nice of him, thanks"

    In reality it's 5% on a bill that probably makes up say two-fifths of your total fuel bill

    So 5% of 40%

    So 2%

    Obviously better than a kick in the teeth, but like I say I suspect they weighed up and realised it's a good way of looking generous without actually giving as much as it first seems - no lies just benefitting from the ambiguity and hoping people don't deep dive into the details

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,297 Championing

    Where I live is all electric. There is no gas or oil here. So presumably my bills should be noticeably less…

    Currently I'm paying about £100 a month in summer and more than double that in winter. The main electrical consumer here is electric water heating, which is why the bills are still so high in summer.

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,495 Championing

    @OverlyAnxious

    I've been meaning to let you know, I ordered my new Motability car and, as someone who considers themself a car lover, I've been a bit of a heretic 😅

    I won't say which sin I've committed to the hydrocarbon gods but let's just say this tax break might give me a little more benefit 😅

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Community Member Posts: 1,470 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1142748#Comment_1142748

    I told someone our last bill was just over an hundred for summer and he scoffed and said his was only £50 a month. I think he must be out all day😂 he told us to go and buy a coffee in wetherspoons and sit there all morning to cut our bills down. Not my idea of living to be honest.

  • ChrisR777
    ChrisR777 Community Member Posts: 1,502 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1142781#Comment_1142781

    And remember to turn off the microwave, that saves 30p per annum…🙄

  • Rag_793
    Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 206 Empowering

    I am with Octopus Energy

    IMG_2838.jpeg IMG_2839.jpeg

    I live in a 1 bedroom flat that is classed as Supported Living where I live independently. My monthly bills are quite reasonable as since 2024 I have use a fixed tariff rate each year. My prices remain quite steady, they send emails where you can opt in for energy saving measures at certain times of day.
    With my Water I am with Severn Trent, who operate the Big Difference Scheme for those that are on a low income.

    I operate on a notepad service on my phone with different payments for bills spread across the month -

    UC - PIP & ESA -ESA

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Community Member Posts: 1,470 Championing
    edited August 5

    Is your standing charge only thirteen pounds a month? Have I got that right? Mine starts at £1.33 a day on ovo

  • Rag_793
    Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 206 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1142843#Comment_1142843

    Electric is £13.72 Standing Charge & Gas Standing Charge £8.90 over 30 Days

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Community Member Posts: 1,470 Championing

    Right, I’m with the wrong company then. They wanted far too much for a monthly contract and ovo have reputation of just increasing your monthly without notice…You got Octopus number?

  • Rag_793
    Rag_793 Community Member Posts: 206 Empowering

    I am with Octopus, on a fixed rate tariff each year. Octopus Energy uses Green and Renewable Energy Sources.


    https://octopus.energy/quote/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23564866005&gbraid=0AAAAAC4N6qDpMQulFnMSOPxLh-8_Fsy16&gclid=CjwKCAjwvsvTBhBaEiwAmf-3nmAouDi0-FVADQybOMU2OrSZW96Z9ykdjGMryI7Pmstwu73QvtkYQhoCJooQAvD_BwE&affiliate=tay-singh.octopus.energy

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