Energy thread

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  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    rick_chasey said:

    I understood the Germans noticed a significant reducing in gas flows throughout h2 of 2021

    Did they?

    https://tradingeconomics.com/germany/natural-gas-imports
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    If you look at that chart you wouldn’t know Russia had stopped sending gas at all.

    For some reason I can’t search by dates but here’s a summary from 2021:

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/22/kremlin-denies-restricting-gas-supplies-europe-political-gain-pipeline-russia

    In November 2021

    Russian gas flows via Yamal-Europe pipeline to Germany halted again

    https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russian-gas-flows-via-yamal-europe-pipeline-germany-halted-again-2021-11-06/
    _
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    Yes. As I said, November 2021. Rising energy costs were known about in June 2021.
    Ukraine is a contributing factor but it is not the full narrative that the government is peddling.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    edited September 2022
    Yeah I know I can't find the trade articles in the summer that were talking about reduced global supply back in the summer, but it was an issue back then.
    Basically Russia throttled back gas supplies quite early on.

    I'm all for slating the govt, and Truss' decision in 2017 to give up a load of gas storage was clearly not a clever one, and the UK is remarkably reliant on gas as an energy source, but it's really not a British issue.

    There were problems in the British model and the regulator was clearly asleep at the wheel by allowing firms to lock in fixed prices for customers but buy wholesale at spot (or near spot) prices. That is obviously madness.
    _
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,024
    Re the mistake of not having any storage, it may end up being a positive. Since all the European gas storage facilities were filled up, the price of gas has dropped a lot.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    TheBigBean said:

    Re the mistake of not having any storage, it may end up being a positive. Since all the European gas storage facilities were filled up, the price of gas has dropped a lot.

    It removes a level of flexibility, regardless. They could chose to fill it up late/not use it etc.
    _
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,700
    edited September 2022
    I ought to view my 'lectric usage more, but even on basic viewing, pretty happy with restricting usage last winter compared with the one before... mainly down to reducing the time the oil-filled radiator was on (not leaving it on tickover in between bursts). Currently running at £68 per month DD, and just got an email saying I'd get a £400 rebate this winter.


    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • pangolin
    pangolin Posts: 6,660
    Pretty angry the y axis starts at zero.
    - Genesis Croix de Fer
    - Dolan Tuono
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,700
    pangolin said:

    Pretty angry the y axis starts at zero.


    Just as well, as it should record "£0" for August 2022.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,700
    Just had my British Gas email... with the discount included, my annual cost for hot water and cooking will increase from £172 to £204. I think I can just about cope with that...
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,801
    edited September 2022
    For anyone with oil fired heating, we get an extra £100 off this winter. Not clear yet how that happens, hopefully the supplier will knock it off our bill and claim it back from the govt.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    Stevo_666 said:

    For anyone with oil fired heating, we get an extra £100 off this winter. Not clear yet how that happens, hopefully the supplier will knock it off our bill and claim it back from the govt.

    Get yourself nine more suppliers and you could make a profit
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    So far have survived with no heating. Temperature down to 18.5 inside.

    Pretty grim, not enjoying it. Wife grew up with much worse so is fine.

    Trying to not stick on the warmest jumper yet; a bit like not wanting to put it in the smallest gear on a climb as there's no way back from that.
    _
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    was 15 inside yesterday evening so put the heating on for an hour.

    Our insulation is pretty dire.

    18.5 is balmy
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    Had the decorators in yesterday who had all windows and patio doors open.
    It was below 15C in the house. The heating went on as soon as they left. 🥶
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 680
    30s semi with solid brick walls. Downstairs I've done a proper job insulating with PIR foam under the suspended wooden floor and we have double glazing throughout. Maybe could do with topping up the insulation in the loft and seal the hatch a bit better. We do have a full height extension to the side which is cavity wall with rockwool. It still feels like a cold house though. Maybe it's just because we are getting older...
    We've flicked the heating on for an hour or two for a few nights now, and last night it went on at 5:30. Feels like it might be a long autumn and winter...
  • pangolin
    pangolin Posts: 6,660
    Munsford0 said:

    30s semi with solid brick walls. Downstairs I've done a proper job insulating with PIR foam under the suspended wooden floor and we have double glazing throughout. Maybe could do with topping up the insulation in the loft and seal the hatch a bit better. We do have a full height extension to the side which is cavity wall with rockwool. It still feels like a cold house though. Maybe it's just because we are getting older...
    We've flicked the heating on for an hour or two for a few nights now, and last night it went on at 5:30. Feels like it might be a long autumn and winter...

    Get someone to do the loft, it was under £200 for the insulation and the labour to fit ours.
    - Genesis Croix de Fer
    - Dolan Tuono
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    pangolin said:

    Munsford0 said:

    30s semi with solid brick walls. Downstairs I've done a proper job insulating with PIR foam under the suspended wooden floor and we have double glazing throughout. Maybe could do with topping up the insulation in the loft and seal the hatch a bit better. We do have a full height extension to the side which is cavity wall with rockwool. It still feels like a cold house though. Maybe it's just because we are getting older...
    We've flicked the heating on for an hour or two for a few nights now, and last night it went on at 5:30. Feels like it might be a long autumn and winter...

    Get someone to do the loft, it was under £200 for the insulation and the labour to fit ours.
    I have been quoted £8 sqm for fitting insulation which seems like a bargain.

    Logburner got lit yesterday, I am determined to get to October before turning on the heating
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 680
    If it was empty I'd go for it, but I suspect it's a faffy DIY job. 2/3 of it has insulation to the top of the joists then boarded, then further insulated by having 3 tons of miscellaneous crap in boxes stacked all over it. Only bit I can realistically top up is round the sides where it's not boarded. The bit over the extension was done to 2003 standards so twixt the joists then a second lot over them at 90 degrees.

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    edited September 2022
    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
    A few bottles of wine and beer up and down at intermittent times isn't a hardship.
    I'm not one for drinking cases of wine at a time. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,269
    Bending off topic for a whinge. SO Energy's customer admin is bleedin' awful. Inherited them as a supplier on buying house 5 months ago. Bar a stupidly over-guesstimated bill for month 1 when place was empty and I think I boiled the kettle twice on visits, there's been zero account updates. Fed them regular meter readings, made payments calculated on tariffs, plus they arranged fitting of SMETS2s a month ago, must be a different part of orgn as that was efficient.

    Frustratingly useless.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    pblakeney said:

    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
    A few bottles of wine and beer up and down at intermittent times isn't a hardship.
    I'm not one for drinking cases of wine at a time. 😉
    I was assuming you were taking it all down in summer that show you how lazy I am and would make me teetotal if I had to go in the loft to get a bottle of wine
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    edited September 2022
    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
    A few bottles of wine and beer up and down at intermittent times isn't a hardship.
    I'm not one for drinking cases of wine at a time. 😉
    I was assuming you were taking it all down in summer that show you how lazy I am and would make me teetotal if I had to go in the loft to get a bottle of wine
    :D
    That's where getting the loft ladder comes into it's own. Place the cases near the opening.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
    A few bottles of wine and beer up and down at intermittent times isn't a hardship.
    I'm not one for drinking cases of wine at a time. 😉
    I was assuming you were taking it all down in summer that show you how lazy I am and would make me teetotal if I had to go in the loft to get a bottle of wine
    I still don't get this. A (nice) case of wine in the loft will potentially spoil if left over summer / freeze over winter.

    Usually the cupboard under the stairs is perfectly adequate for wine storage for a few months.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    rick_chasey said:

    So far have survived with no heating. Temperature down to 18.5 inside.

    Pretty grim, not enjoying it. Wife grew up with much worse so is fine.

    Trying to not stick on the warmest jumper yet; a bit like not wanting to put it in the smallest gear on a climb as there's no way back from that.

    Felt a lot better/warmer after my lunch time ride.

    Might have to drag my arse out of bed before working hours when I'm WFH as it obviously helps.
    _
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    shirley_basso said:

    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    surrey_commuter said:

    pblakeney said:

    Munsford0 said:

    ...

    I think sealing and insulating the loft hatch is the lowest hanging fruit. And I should probably incorporate fitting the loft ladder I've had in the garage for 25 years...

    Probably the best home improvement I've had done. Massively convenient.
    Loft is now a wine cellar in the winter. 😉
    that intrigues me but think that I am too lazy to carry cases of wine in/out the loft twice a year and my insulation is between the joists so hopefully the actual loft is going down towards freezing
    A few bottles of wine and beer up and down at intermittent times isn't a hardship.
    I'm not one for drinking cases of wine at a time. 😉
    I was assuming you were taking it all down in summer that show you how lazy I am and would make me teetotal if I had to go in the loft to get a bottle of wine
    I still don't get this. A (nice) case of wine in the loft will potentially spoil if left over summer / freeze over winter.

    Usually the cupboard under the stairs is perfectly adequate for wine storage for a few months.
    light, temp fluctuations, high and low temps are the biggest killers of wine.

    I matured wine in a cupboard under the stairs (it was a cold hallway) for a decade
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,484
    shirley_basso said:



    I still don't get this. A (nice) case of wine in the loft will potentially spoil if left over summer / freeze over winter.

    Beer/white wine/bubbly in the winter only, chilled, never frozen. Maybe I'm lucky with weather or roof insulation. Maybe I need to increase ceiling insulation. Either way, works perfectly for me.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    pblakeney said:

    shirley_basso said:



    I still don't get this. A (nice) case of wine in the loft will potentially spoil if left over summer / freeze over winter.

    Beer/white wine/bubbly in the winter only, chilled, never frozen. Maybe I'm lucky with weather or roof insulation. Maybe I need to increase ceiling insulation. Either way, works perfectly for me.
    Family member of mine lost an absolute mint in top quality wine which he kept in the attic over a cold winter.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

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