Price cap changes: supporting our customers

I can maybe understand why the unit rate has gone up by 40%, energy prices are rising.

But why has the standing charge gone up by 64%, surely the cost of maintaining the infrastructure doesn’t change that much ?.

“These standing charges are applied to cover the cost of maintaining an energy supply network, which are also seeing a price increase due to a multitude of factors such as the smart meter rollout, as well as the costs involved when an energy company goes into administration. “

So, just to confirm here, what you are saying to us all is, when privatized energy companies fail consumers are being forced to foot the bill for what?, the remainder of their contractual obligations to infrastructure that would normally have been paid for from those failed companies profits?

Well their customers were shifted to other companies and profits are still being had from those customers so why the hell are you all making us pay and not calling out those companies who took on those customers who are evidently not taking up the additional costs of infrastructure that would have been paid for from the profits of those customers at their previous failed companies. Someone is getting profits for nothing while the rest of us are getting shafted. 

I look forward to your reply, from someone who has seen his energy price per Kw rise by 54% in 24 months and his standing charge rise by 56% on top while wages for myself and indeed anyone in the bottom 45% of income earners is the same as it was 40 years ago once we account for inflation. So I have not a clue where you all expect this extra money to come from other than from the mouths of children and in compromise of payments for the home in which they live. A few peanuts from the warm home discount wont solve this yawning chasm that is going to swallow the already dwindling economic future of millions of people, just so you fully understand and appreciate the magnitude of what you are doing, a smiling customer service outlook wont cut it.

Regards.

Luc G.

Hi , I am autistic / adhd 

I live alone with 2 cats , I have no support at all, i use a portable shower head for 10 mins to save water and energy. And only have WiFi on and cat fountain on. And the fridge freezer. All other plug sockets are off. Unless I have a coffee or pile the washing up ( by hand) and do one big dish wash..

I wash my bed sheets every 2 weeks. I only use a quick wash for clothes. My thermostat is on 15 or 10. I wear jumpers around the house with blankets and a hot water bottle. 

I am on prepayment meter smart one and i am also ptsd I am scared of getting into debt (never been in debt) and scared I have to keep topping up and I can't afford it. I cook on gas too. I don't know how to submit a reading. Or what my cost is as being autistic when it was sent out my new price I lost the said email ( due to adhd I misplaced or lose things all the time) and I don't understand written information or what it means being autistic having no help or support and alone. I don't know what to do. 

Its why I have come here. And being a customer. I need to know what helps is available to me. No one is telling me anything. Yes I've seen the Martin Lewis thing but I can't understand words or information anything written. Its hard to fathom when you have a learning disability and a neurological one and the adhd. 

Someone please help me. 

Hi 

I am on benefits but it my benefits cover other out goings too. Like I said I can't fill on forms or understand things. Its very well you giving me this information but I can understand it with said learning difficulties I think I am on the priority list but no one has phoned me or emailed me etc 

Hi @Lisamariejones75,

Thanks for posting here. We’ve moved your post across to this topic we’ve made on the recent price changes as there’s some extra support and advice we’ve provided above.

Have you been checking the daily costs on your smart meter In-Home Display? If so it’s worth checking that the unit rates on your device have been updated correctly. You can check these against the prices which were confirmed in your price change email/letter at the start of March. If there’s any discrepancies between the prices shown on your letter and the device, please reach out to our Support Team who can help get these corrected.

I hope this helps.