| Energy price cap up 6.4% 16:19 - Feb 25 with 4908 views | Pinewoodblue |
I really thought, when we had a change of government, that one of the first crazy Tory policies to be changed was linking electricity prices to the wholesale price of gas.
This enables a bigger profit to be made on electricity generated by wind & solar. There really is no justification for UK energy to be among the most e pensive in Europe. OFGEM isn’t fit for purpose. |  |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:11 - Feb 27 with 967 views | positivity |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 20:03 - Feb 26 by ArmaghBlue |
Miliband lying? Never!!!  |
is it 2030 already in armagh, wow , that's useful, did we stay up in 2025? did we get promoted again in 2026? |  |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 14:59 - Feb 28 with 881 views | Clapham_Junction |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 16:03 - Feb 26 by OldFart71 |
Maybe they wouldn't have so many funding issues if as with many Councils they didn't pay Head executives £127,000 to £148,000, Deputy Chief executive £105,000-£127,000, Chief Operating officer to be recruited, Director of housing £83,000-£95,000, Director of planning control £83,000-£95,000, Director of Operations and climate control £83,000 -£95,000, Director of sustainable communities and economy $83,000-£95,000 and it goes on. 57 in total with the "Lower paid £50,000-£60,000. I live in Needham Market and recently many of the paths were skimmed and then new tarmac laid. We received a letter telling us when it would happen and what would happen. In that a weed killer would be sprayed so preventing weeds from coming through. Literally within days weeds and grass came through the newly laid tarmac. A neighbour contacted the Council and told them about this. The answer was that the job was signed off and paid. Some Councils have taken up hairbrained schemes and have lost millions because of. In many cases it's not because councils don't have enough money it's because they have too many chiefs and are frivolous with the spending. |
Utterly clueless. Many councils have budgets running into the billions. The amounts senior management are paid are a tiny fraction of the overall budget and salaries are generally far lower than their equivalents in the private sector.
As for there being too many, I'd love to see people who spout this kind of nonsense have a go at drawing up an organogram for an organisation employing thousands of people across hundreds of speciality areas if they think seven or eight directors is too many. |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 16:58 - May 8 with 678 views | ArmaghBlue |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 16:58 - Feb 25 by hype313 |
Thought Miliband said when they got into Govt our bills would reduce by £300? |
Anyone who believes a nutter like Miliband deserves to pay the price!! |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 17:00 - May 8 with 674 views | Vaughan8 |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 16:27 - Feb 25 by DarkBrandon |
It does sometimes go down, but this is unusual. The prices follow (something like) the average price of units of gas. [Post edited 25 Feb 16:27]
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I thought I heard when all this came in that the price they give is the "top" price, not an average but maybe i've misheard/read that.
Say gas is £3, £5 and £10, they price it at £10 and not the average of £6? | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 17:12 - May 8 with 620 views | Cotty |
Isn't that normal at this time of the year, and priced in? |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 17:15 - May 8 with 617 views | bluejacko |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:11 - Feb 27 by positivity |
is it 2030 already in armagh, wow , that's useful, did we stay up in 2025? did we get promoted again in 2026? |
So in 2030 we get a £300 cut,in the meantime till 2030 the cost of energy still goes up!
Not really going to help in 2030 is it? | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 17:21 - May 8 with 610 views | EuanTown |
Lining the pockets of foreign companies and shareholders who own our energy companies to keep their countries prices low. |  | | |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 18:00 - May 8 with 576 views | itfcsuth |
I hate politics, have very very little interest in it.
The reality is, Tory or Labour, neither could run a knees up in a pub, both sides only as corrupt and as bent as each other, first thought is themselves, public image and future votes.
Politics is common sense first, sadly common sense isn’t that common in UK politics. |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 18:10 - May 8 with 560 views | bluejacko |
It’s like the £300 a prediction! Even if it happens £166 will nowhere near cover the cost of losing my WFA.council rates and insurances and the cost of a weekly shop going up. | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 19:01 - May 8 with 529 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 17:21 - May 8 by EuanTown |
Lining the pockets of foreign companies and shareholders who own our energy companies to keep their countries prices low. |
That’s not really how it works. Approx 2pc of your bill goes to the utility company - so irrelevant in the scheme of things. As long as we are reliant on fossil fuels then we’ll have to pay the market rates for them. If the energy network was privatised, the state would still be paying the same price for commodities (you might save 2pc on your bill though, at a cost of £10’s billions).
If we want cheaper bills we need more renewables, and a complete reset of the pricing mechanism (which Labour have not even suggested as far as I’m aware). | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 19:52 - May 8 with 496 views | KrakenBlue |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 19:01 - May 8 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
That’s not really how it works. Approx 2pc of your bill goes to the utility company - so irrelevant in the scheme of things. As long as we are reliant on fossil fuels then we’ll have to pay the market rates for them. If the energy network was privatised, the state would still be paying the same price for commodities (you might save 2pc on your bill though, at a cost of £10’s billions).
If we want cheaper bills we need more renewables, and a complete reset of the pricing mechanism (which Labour have not even suggested as far as I’m aware). |
disappointing news this week re: renewables https://www.ft.com/content/7015e906-6415-4c35-a992-88f5f3e60e07
I saw the press going into meltdown over the prospect of regional pricing for electricity (live near a solar farm or turbine = cheaper bills) because it'll mean some people's bills would go up (untill they build a turbine or solar near by and the cycle goes on).
Can't even get ideas off the ground before they're shot down, too many with vested interested in the status quo | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 22:38 - May 8 with 419 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 19:01 - May 8 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
That’s not really how it works. Approx 2pc of your bill goes to the utility company - so irrelevant in the scheme of things. As long as we are reliant on fossil fuels then we’ll have to pay the market rates for them. If the energy network was privatised, the state would still be paying the same price for commodities (you might save 2pc on your bill though, at a cost of £10’s billions).
If we want cheaper bills we need more renewables, and a complete reset of the pricing mechanism (which Labour have not even suggested as far as I’m aware). |
The price utility companies can charge for electricity is linked to the cost of electricity generated by gas powered generators.
Utility companies are also generate electricity so make a profit from both generation and supply. | |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 23:05 - May 8 with 409 views | giant_stow |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 14:59 - Feb 28 by Clapham_Junction |
Utterly clueless. Many councils have budgets running into the billions. The amounts senior management are paid are a tiny fraction of the overall budget and salaries are generally far lower than their equivalents in the private sector.
As for there being too many, I'd love to see people who spout this kind of nonsense have a go at drawing up an organogram for an organisation employing thousands of people across hundreds of speciality areas if they think seven or eight directors is too many. |
Can I ask why is the the old fellas comments clueless please? Or to be precise, why do councils have to pay what's deamed to be the market rate? Can't rhe market rate be changed? Do ex council managers find employment easily in the private sector when leaving? Basically what happens 8f rhe public sector says those rate aren't available anymore?
I appreciate that such a changes may not make a dent in costs, but sometimes the 'market rate' argument seems conveniently circular. |  |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 07:00 - May 9 with 308 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 22:38 - May 8 by Pinewoodblue |
The price utility companies can charge for electricity is linked to the cost of electricity generated by gas powered generators.
Utility companies are also generate electricity so make a profit from both generation and supply. |
“The price utility companies can charge for electricity is linked to the cost of electricity generated by gas powered generators.”
It’s actually linked to the most expensive source. So where we agree minimum rates for new nuclear power we’d also be tied to that. Without changing the pricing structure, well therefore never have significantly cheaper bills (even with 99pc renewables). Some utility companies are involved in generation, but nobody is ever going to nationalise that given the immense cost of infrastructure (hence even well capitalised energy firms tend to do JV to spread the cost. It’s the fossil fuel majors where the huge profits are made. | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:21 - May 9 with 244 views | Meadowlark |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 07:00 - May 9 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
“The price utility companies can charge for electricity is linked to the cost of electricity generated by gas powered generators.”
It’s actually linked to the most expensive source. So where we agree minimum rates for new nuclear power we’d also be tied to that. Without changing the pricing structure, well therefore never have significantly cheaper bills (even with 99pc renewables). Some utility companies are involved in generation, but nobody is ever going to nationalise that given the immense cost of infrastructure (hence even well capitalised energy firms tend to do JV to spread the cost. It’s the fossil fuel majors where the huge profits are made. |
Yes, so renewable which is currently being generated at all time low prices and record quantities is being switched off in favour of dirty nuclear, coal and gas. The whole system is screwed, and Sizewell C and Hinckley will make the situation worse for generations. If anyone had any sense they would stop Sizewell before further environment damage is done. "Throwing good money after bad" has never been more apt. |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:32 - May 9 with 224 views | Kievthegreat |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 19:52 - May 8 by KrakenBlue |
disappointing news this week re: renewables https://www.ft.com/content/7015e906-6415-4c35-a992-88f5f3e60e07
I saw the press going into meltdown over the prospect of regional pricing for electricity (live near a solar farm or turbine = cheaper bills) because it'll mean some people's bills would go up (untill they build a turbine or solar near by and the cycle goes on).
Can't even get ideas off the ground before they're shot down, too many with vested interested in the status quo |
Interestingly, the issue with the wind farm there seems to be the price was supposedly too low for the company, yet the guaranteed price is about 20% the price consumers currently pay via the cap (£58.87 per MWh vs roughly £270 per MWh). Perhaps they outbid themselves to win the contract? Wouldn't be the first company to do so! [Post edited 9 May 8:32]
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:38 - May 9 with 202 views | Herbivore |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 23:05 - May 8 by giant_stow |
Can I ask why is the the old fellas comments clueless please? Or to be precise, why do councils have to pay what's deamed to be the market rate? Can't rhe market rate be changed? Do ex council managers find employment easily in the private sector when leaving? Basically what happens 8f rhe public sector says those rate aren't available anymore?
I appreciate that such a changes may not make a dent in costs, but sometimes the 'market rate' argument seems conveniently circular. |
How do you expect public sector organisations to attract even slightly competent senior leaders if they are paying way below the market rate? As Clapham mentioned, they are already comparatively poorly paid given the size of the organisations they are managing, the budgets they deal with, staff numbers, and the complexity of the organisation. I know some seem to think the public sector should work out of the goodness of their hearts but if we want well run public services, we aren't going to get them if pay for public sector workers is rubbish. |  |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:18 - May 9 with 183 views | giant_stow |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:38 - May 9 by Herbivore |
How do you expect public sector organisations to attract even slightly competent senior leaders if they are paying way below the market rate? As Clapham mentioned, they are already comparatively poorly paid given the size of the organisations they are managing, the budgets they deal with, staff numbers, and the complexity of the organisation. I know some seem to think the public sector should work out of the goodness of their hearts but if we want well run public services, we aren't going to get them if pay for public sector workers is rubbish. |
Why aren't we gonna get decent managers for the public sector if wages are lower? Is there a glut of vacancies in comparable roles in the private sector? (Maybe there is, but I doubt it).
In the current context of crumbling services, growing demand for services caused by an aged society, pressure on individual's personal budget / limited scope to increase tax rates, why is it wrong to ask well-paid people in the public sector to show restraint in their pay demands?
These rates mention by the Old fella would be in the top few percent of earning rates - these people are very well off, but their organisations are skint. ... As are most of the people who fund those salaries through taxes. Can you not see how that might seem unfair to the average working person? Or are socialist values only relevant for the private sector? | |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:27 - May 9 with 176 views | soupytwist |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:38 - May 9 by Herbivore |
How do you expect public sector organisations to attract even slightly competent senior leaders if they are paying way below the market rate? As Clapham mentioned, they are already comparatively poorly paid given the size of the organisations they are managing, the budgets they deal with, staff numbers, and the complexity of the organisation. I know some seem to think the public sector should work out of the goodness of their hearts but if we want well run public services, we aren't going to get them if pay for public sector workers is rubbish. |
I'll say this just to save someone else the trouble - "but pensions". And yes, working for the public sector should be done out of the goodness of your heart.
If you let private sector executives trot out lines that they need the going rate (often compared to spurious equivalents in the US) don't be surprised if they get used elsewhere. |  | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:47 - May 9 with 155 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 08:21 - May 9 by Meadowlark |
Yes, so renewable which is currently being generated at all time low prices and record quantities is being switched off in favour of dirty nuclear, coal and gas. The whole system is screwed, and Sizewell C and Hinckley will make the situation worse for generations. If anyone had any sense they would stop Sizewell before further environment damage is done. "Throwing good money after bad" has never been more apt. |
No renewable isn’t being switched off, the energy companies are just making more profit.
Difficult to decide if OFGEM is incompetent or corrupt. Government is certainly being the former by not correcting the problem. When they do make a change they will claim the credit. | |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 10:02 - May 9 with 125 views | DJR |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:47 - May 9 by Pinewoodblue |
No renewable isn’t being switched off, the energy companies are just making more profit.
Difficult to decide if OFGEM is incompetent or corrupt. Government is certainly being the former by not correcting the problem. When they do make a change they will claim the credit. |
I'm not an expert on Ofgem but they did ease restrictions on market entrance, which resulted in several recent opportunist entrants going bust and customers having to pick up the bill, which is just crazy.
Switching utilities, the recent NAO report on the water industry (regulated by Ofwat) found the following, according to Private Eye.
Uk water companies are now indebted to the tune of more than £70 billion (up from £0 at privatisation), well over twice the amount of equity, ie. shareholder funds, that they hold. Ten out of the sixteen companies are not generating enough to cover interest on this debt, and things could get worse. As companies' credit ratings fall, so lenders demand even more. [Post edited 9 May 10:28]
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 10:40 - May 9 with 98 views | Herbivore |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:18 - May 9 by giant_stow |
Why aren't we gonna get decent managers for the public sector if wages are lower? Is there a glut of vacancies in comparable roles in the private sector? (Maybe there is, but I doubt it).
In the current context of crumbling services, growing demand for services caused by an aged society, pressure on individual's personal budget / limited scope to increase tax rates, why is it wrong to ask well-paid people in the public sector to show restraint in their pay demands?
These rates mention by the Old fella would be in the top few percent of earning rates - these people are very well off, but their organisations are skint. ... As are most of the people who fund those salaries through taxes. Can you not see how that might seem unfair to the average working person? Or are socialist values only relevant for the private sector? |
Because nobody is going to want to run a massive organisation that comes with tons of stress and a lot of responsibility for a wage that doesn't remotely reflect the work that they are being asked to do. Their wages are already low compared to people running comparable sized organisations in the private sector. I'm not sure what you mean by socialist values in the private sector, they don't exist, companies pay what they need to get people for the job and individuals ask for a salary they see as being commensurate with the work.
Genuine question, what do you think someone who is director of children's services in a local authority should earn? They are responsible for hundreds of staff and tens of hundreds of thousands of children and young people. It's a massively difficult and complex job. What would be a reasonable wage for such a role? And what would be reasonable for the chief exec who then has oversight of ALL council services and is in charge of thousands of staff and a massive budget? | |
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| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 10:42 - May 9 with 91 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 09:47 - May 9 by Pinewoodblue |
No renewable isn’t being switched off, the energy companies are just making more profit.
Difficult to decide if OFGEM is incompetent or corrupt. Government is certainly being the former by not correcting the problem. When they do make a change they will claim the credit. |
I’ve questioned that claim before, without reply. It makes no sense - it would actually incentivise the use of renewables since the energy could be sold at a higher rate + higher margin. If you turn them off you are generating zero income. | | | |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 10:45 - May 9 with 86 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Energy price cap up 6.4% on 10:02 - May 9 by DJR |
I'm not an expert on Ofgem but they did ease restrictions on market entrance, which resulted in several recent opportunist entrants going bust and customers having to pick up the bill, which is just crazy.
Switching utilities, the recent NAO report on the water industry (regulated by Ofwat) found the following, according to Private Eye.
Uk water companies are now indebted to the tune of more than £70 billion (up from £0 at privatisation), well over twice the amount of equity, ie. shareholder funds, that they hold. Ten out of the sixteen companies are not generating enough to cover interest on this debt, and things could get worse. As companies' credit ratings fall, so lenders demand even more. [Post edited 9 May 10:28]
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And to think the government had the bright idea of asking the regulators for ways of improving efficiency. | |
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