Energy Suppliers Going Bust

[IanSuth]

There is a global issue about the cost of gas. I used to study the issue of gas supply in some detail, but I recognise if the UK uses a lot of LNG the supply acts to some extent like storage.

As someone who is a qualified Physicist and has worked as an electrical engineer (with my father) I am inclined habitually to overengineer things so I am perhaps more likely to think that keeping Rough was a good idea. However, I think the current problem is really part of a global situation rather than a UK situation and whether or not Rough existed that would be much the same. It may still, however, have been a mistake to close Rough. I have not kept myself sufficiently up to date to have a reliable view.

I think having read a bit since yesterday that it was only used by BG so once fragmentation happened and with the historically low oil prices it was uneconomic to maintain just for the sake of it - it remains to be seen whether the amount being paid to CF Industries and whatever it costs in other sweeteners is more or less than it would have cost to maintain a strategic reserve since that time.

 

[IanSuth]

Do Shell supply energy directly to home consumers?

https://www.shellenergy.co.uk/

 

[Deleted member 59730]

I dont see anything wrong with the industry being private because it was a money pit in public ownership

I pay for electricity in France and the UK. Many times over the past 25 years French nationalised EDF has been cheaper than the UK. Even when EDF was my supplier in the UK they were still more expensive. .

 

[NickGrogan]

I pay for electricity in France and the UK. Many times over the past 25 years French nationalised EDF has been cheaper than the UK. Even when EDF was my supplier in the UK they were still more expensive. .

Lots of nuclear power, lots of connections to other European countries (no water in the way) and heavily price regulated. The market in France and the UK is very different.

 

[japancool]

https://www.shellenergy.co.uk/

Cool, they do broadband as well. I must remember that next time I'm filling up my car at Virgin Media.

 

[NickGrogan]

On the other hand, the big companies will have hedged against price rises.

To some extent this is true, but they are not fully hedged, it's not possible.

 

[OMGVape]

Do Shell supply energy directly to home consumers?

https://www.shellenergy.co.uk/

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Do Shell supply energy directly to home consumers?

Yes, unfortunately.

 

[IanSuth]

Hoorah, had all my confirmations, my last minute attempt to get a fixed price deal last Sunday worked

 

[OMGVape]

They can't increase fixed tariffs it is a contract - that is why they are crying.

That's what I thought, but woke up to an email this morning, Shell Energy have suspended all fixed tariffs and jacked up my monthly payments :-(

 

[IanSuth]

That's what I thought, but woke up to an email this morning, Shell Energy have suspended all fixed tariffs and jacked up my monthly payments :-(

Surely if you have an actual contract with Shell then they can't - if you had a deal with AN.Other Energy and were transferred to Shell by Ofgen or whoever it is then it is a different story.

If a fixed deal isnt a fixed deal then why do they exist as you end up paying a slight premium for the privilege of the fixed rate

 

[OMGVape]

Surely if you have an actual contract with Shell then they can't - if you had a deal with AN.Other Energy and were transferred to Shell by Ofgen or whoever it is then it is a different story.

If a fixed deal isnt a fixed deal then why do they exist as you end up paying a slight premium for the privilege of the fixed rate

I've been with Shell for over two years and renewed our fixed tariff recently.

 

[IanSuth]

I've been with Shell for over two years and renewed our fixed tariff recently.

Then i would read the small print of the contract you signed and unless there is a get out clause tell them you don't accept the variation to the contract, nobody can unilaterally change a contract after the fact, that is law school contract page 1 (in fact i seem to remember the case laws are to do with get out clauses written on the back of a hotel door and on the back of a tram ticket which were found non operative as the contract came into force upon signing of the register and purchase of the ticket so anything after that was irrelevant.

I did see Shell have stopped selling new gas deals but unless the operative date of your new contract hadn't started yet I am pretty sure legally they dont have a leg to stand on (unless there is a "unless gas prices go over price cap" type small print in something you signed)

 

[IanSuth]

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/c...r-electricity-supplier-has-put-up-its-prices/

If you’re on a fixed tariff
Your supplier can’t increase the price you pay, unless the government has raised VAT.

If you’re not sure if you’re on a fixed tariff, check your bill. If it says your contract has an end date, this means you’re on a fixed tariff.

Fixed tariffs usually last for a year.

 

[IanSuth]

Looks like i guessed right with Bulb getting out and into a 2yr fixed deal a month ago

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59373198