[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

BP has reported massive profits for the three months to June after oil and gas prices soared.

The energy giant saw underlying profits hit $8.45bn (£6.9bn) - more than triple the amount it made at the same time last year.

The figure is the second highest in the firm's history and takes its half-year profits to $14.6bn.

what a joke

[arista]

[arista]

[arista]

[arista]

[James]

Spain introducing a law to ban air conditioning being set below 27°C and heating above 19°C in the winter, in public and commercial buildings.

Europe's energy crisis: Controversy as Spain bans air conditioning from dropping below 27°C
By Laura Llach • Updated: 03/08/2022 - 14:38

A debate has been sparked after Spain's government moved to prevent offices, shops and other venues from setting air conditioning below 27°C in the summer.

It is part of plans to cut the country's energy consumption and limit dependency on Russian gas.

The decree, published on Tuesday morning, will also stop heating from being raised above 19°C during the winter.



The rules will be mandatory in all public and commercial buildings, including bars, cinemas, theatres, airports and train stations.

It is extended as a recommendation to Spanish households.


“Right now, perhaps suggested by the heat wave we are experiencing, I would say that with 27 degrees we will be very hot," Andrea Castillo, a worker at Castellón university, told Euronews. "Perhaps we could work at 25 degrees, but not at 27.”

Laura Berge, a civil servant in Valencia, questioned the practicality of the measure.

“Generally speaking, you can work at 27 degrees, but to reach that temperature in hot areas, you need to put the air conditioner at 22 or 23 degrees for a couple of hours, so I am worried that it will not be allowed to exceed 27 degrees. at any time,” she told Euronews.

"In that case, the air would have to be turned on well in advance and it would be counterproductive in terms of energy savings."

Winter is coming: All you need to know about the EU's 15% gas reduction plan
France orders air-conditioned shops to close their doors - with fines if they leave them open
Sales of electric heaters soar in Germany amid winter gas crisis fears
Berge's colleague, María Isabel Ruiz, agrees.

"I am in favour of saving energy and that this requires sacrifices, but these proposed temperatures are not adequate," she said.

"It would be necessary to indicate a range of 2 or 3 degrees to adapt it to the outside temperatures since in each region of Spain it is different."

The government passed the bill as part of a bid to reduce the country's gas consumption by 7% in line with the recent European Union energy agreements to limit dependency on Russian gas.

"We see that it saves energy and is good for climate change, but our concern is that it affects families, especially the most vulnerable," said Ana Isabel Gracia, secretary of social policies and housing at the Spanish trade union UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores).

“Instead of taking global measures, it should be specified by establishments so that they can have a different temperature. It is not the same to work, for example, in a place where there is a lot of machinery and the temperature is very high, and in another type of environment where there is none of that.

“There are studies that say that the optimal temperature is 24 degrees. Therefore, perhaps, instead of raising it to 27 degrees, we could stay at 25.”

Teresa Ribera, Spain's ecological transition minister, said the measures -- which include switching off store window lights after 10 pm but not street lighting -- would initially be maintained until November 2023.

She encouraged Spaniards to join the cuts, saying it would not only reduce consumption levels but also bring down households' energy bills.

https://www.euronews.com/2022/08/02/...ping-below-27c

[arista]

Yes that makes sense in Spain
saving their power, is the correct way forward.

Germany already asking their people
to cut power usage in the evening.

France has the most Nuclear Power
lucky them.

[arista]

Street lights in the UK should be turned off at 2AM.

Suggested on This morning HD itv
newspaper review.

Criminals would love that
But if you go out Late night
take a Torch
Small LED power beam

[arista]

[Cherie]

Don't Pay UK

https://dontpay.uk/

[Denver]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

BP has reported massive profits for the three months to June after oil and gas prices soared.

The energy giant saw underlying profits hit $8.45bn (£6.9bn) - more than triple the amount it made at the same time last year.

The figure is the second highest in the firm's history and takes its half-year profits to $14.6bn.

EON now annoubce a £3.47b profit but Ofgem will make you think they are struggling bad

[arista]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Don't Pay UK

https://dontpay.uk/

[We are a movement against the rise in energy bills

We demand a reduction in energy bills to an affordable level.
We will cancel our direct debits from Oct 1, if we are ignored.
We will take this action if pledges reach 1 million by then.]


What happens if they do not
reach one million?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by arista

[We are a movement against the rise in energy bills

We demand a reduction in energy bills to an affordable level.
We will cancel our direct debits from Oct 1, if we are ignored.
We will take this action if pledges reach 1 million by then.]


What happens if they do not
reach one million?

it probably won't go ahead as the impact would not be enough

[bitontheslide]

not paying will likely put you in further financial debt through fines or court costs

[Vanessa]

Thank god I don't get gas and electricity bill. I have NatWest. But I will still have to be careful.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Thank god I don't get gas and electricity bill. I have NatWest. But I will still have to be careful.

Vanessa if you are on a payment meter you pay more per kilowatt then if paying by DD or quarterly bill

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

not paying will likely put you in further financial debt through fines or court costs

True but I think some people feel they can't just sit around and do nothing while the energy companies rake in record profits and maybe the threat of 1 million people suddenly cancelling DDs will be a wake up call

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Vanessa if you are on a payment meter you pay more per kilowatt then if paying by DD or quarterly bill

I'll try not to use the gas too much.

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by Cherie

True but I think some people feel they can't just sit around and do nothing while the energy companies rake in record profits and maybe the threat of 1 million people suddenly cancelling DDs will be a wake up call

well truss is going to be PM and she isn't going to do anything

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

well truss is going to be PM and she isn't going to do anything

No she isn’t, think there will be riots

[parmnion]

The cost of energy that gave you 14 days usage, now gives you 3 days.

[bitontheslide]

Supermarkets are not cutting fuel prices by as much as they should do to match the "significant" drop in the cost of wholesale fuel, the RAC has said.

The motoring group said the gap between pump prices and wholesale prices was the widest in almost a decade.

The price of petrol on Tuesday was about £1.76 per litre, but RAC analysts suggested it should be about £1.62.

Fuel prices have hit record highs this year, but are slowly starting to fall.

The RAC said at the start of the week, the average petrol price at the big four supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, was £174.4 per litre. Diesel was £1.86

Meanwhile the average for the delivered wholesale petrol price last week was £1.24, while diesel was £1.38.

After factoring in VAT, fuel duty and a "generous" retailer margin of 10p per litre, the RAC said "forecourts should soon be selling unleaded for no more than £1.62".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62494404

[bitontheslide]

Energy bills could increase ahead of the expected rise in October, the UK's energy regulator has revealed.

Ofgem and industry body Energy UK said it was "possible" for suppliers to raise customers' direct debits before the new cap on energy prices kicks in.

Any rises would be to help spread the cost of higher energy use in the winter months, Ofgem said.

Households have been warned of sharp rises in energy prices, with average bills forecast to reach £4,200 in 2023.

Ofgem said direct debits are usually charged in a way so that customers build up "credit" during the warmer summer months when usage is lower, to spread out the cost of using more energy in the colder months.

"It's therefore possible for direct debits to increase ahead of a price cap rise or even when a customer's use has remained constant," an Ofgem spokesperson said.

However, Ofgem said customers can ask for their excess credit to be "returned at any time and can contact their suppliers to change how their direct debit is spread".

"For example, they pay for exactly what they used in that month and do not build up a credit ahead of winter," Ofgem said.

Ofgem confirmed direct debits could be increased before October, after Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert, told the Today programme that direct debits were going to "start rising pretty much immediately on the 26 August before the new prime minister's in place".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62494406

[arista]

[arista]