46 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

Are you sure you have actually looked? 

 

Check Octopus Go rates in your area

Postcode 

 RG1    5AN   <-- a post code for Reading, UK 

 

Night time unit rate almost half of what you pay. Day time rates are also over 10% lower. Standing charge is only 6% higher. 

 

Yes, I have indeed looked. That's how I know there's only a few fractions of a penny between what they offer and what we're on.

RG1 is central Reading, whereas we're in a more rural part, several miles further on the outskirts. Octopus seems to require a decent mobile signal, which we don't get out here and is probably why we're not on smartmeters... heck, we don't even get gas or sewerage!

As is, the best they could offer us is a tracker tariff, which we're already on.

 

48 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

 

One can spend from £50 to a few hundred to get quite a bit of solar that one can use during the night. 

 

 

Any solution would probably have to support the majority of household activities for a good 10 hours of darkness. Maybe more... Right now, most seem to struggle with a desk fan!

 

Edited 19 June, 20232 yr by Ttaskmaster

2 minutes ago, Ttaskmaster said:

 

As is, the best they could offer us is a tracker tariff, which we're already on.

 

As I recently found out, you cannot get a Tracker tariff now without a smart meter. Octopus might have class leading tariffs but smart meters are de rigeur to get on any of them. My MP has been working for two years (and  me 18 months before that) to try to get smart meter coverage to our rural area. You might want to persue that. 

Nigel 'no power wall in the garage or solar on the roof 'Farage.

   Another of those that has never just 'got by'. 

 

 

 

41 minutes ago, Ttaskmaster said:

 

Any solution would probably have to support the majority of household activities for a good 10 hours of darkness. Maybe more... Right now, most seem to struggle with a desk fan!

 

 

Well I am asleep for much of those hours. I am thinking of switching off the internet but some on the house would object.

Fridge freezer is the biggy I find and it is often not the running wattage, as I fridge freezer much of the time is using zero lecky but it oddly it is the kick in off these devices.

 

Two of my solar generator battery boxes have wattage display and when a fridge freezer starts up it does not only draw the 100 watts or so when it is is do cooling but it will whack up to almost 1kW which trips many of the solar boxes but this is something these boxes are getting better with and now we are seeing Lithium phosphate batteries, rather than Lithium, the price should go down even further as well as all the electronics of charging and the invertor in an ever cheaper and smaller box.  The Chinese and Amazon will see to that, and us in international logistics of course.

 

New MG4 coming with Lithium Phosphate batteries. Price less than or close to £20k..............

 

   

More blind reviewers need other than those Motoring Journalists that borrow cars and appear to not put their own money where their mouths are.

'There are non as blind as those that will not see', or spend enough time with cars before bigging them up.

 

 

34 minutes ago, toot said:

More blind reviewers need other than those Motoring Journalists that borrow cars and appear to not put their own money where their mouths are.

'There are non as blind as those that will not see', or spend enough time with cars before bigging them up.

 

 

 

A neighbour had one but sent it back after a few days.  The software ie for the music, sat nav etc was pants compared to modern European stuff, well Google etc not the substandard stuff that VW have been trying to peddle from what some say.

 

Odd my neighbour rejected the MG4 but went for a XC40 recharge, lots more money I presume but a much nicer car, still Chinese made but with European designing and better software I gather. 

 

Some might just prefer saving a good few thousand with getting the MG4 and just use Google on their smartphone without connection to the odd MG software.

Cheap, quick, rear wheel drive, decent range car for the least money, just the software being the Achilles.  Bit like a VW except for the price.

Just got an Email from Eon Next about tariff drop from 1st July near 3 pence a kWh down for electric and on gas units. Not on daily charges. 

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by toot

1 hour ago, toot said:

Just got an Email from Eon Next about tariff drop from 1st July near 3 pence a kWh down for electric and on gas units. Not on daily charges. 

 

Octopus make a good point. My Go Tariff finishes mid September so I will be able to change from the start of August if the deal look tempting.

 

Some suppliers will charge you an exit fee for leaving your contract early but an important note on this — if you apply to leave your old supplier within 49 days of the end of your contract, they are not allowed to charge you any exit fees. You can see a more detailed explanation on the energy regulator OFGEM's website. The bit you need to know is highlighted below:   "Suppliers will be required to notify customers that their current fixed-term is coming to an end between 42 and 49 days before the contract ends.  Between this notification period and the end of the fixed term contract, suppliers will be banned from charging a termination fee should the customer decide to switch."   If you do think you're still liable for an exit fee, then let us know — you can defer your switch to us by up to a month — just drop us a line to *****@*****.tld

On 18/06/2023 at 22:57, lol-lol said:

Some of us you may regard as wealthy are actually from poor backgrounds and remember being poor.

That's good to hear. I've done my time in a council flat, and while I am happy to be out of it, I do remember there are people who still live in the area.

Before that, I lived near Stockland Green, which at the time wasn't a particularly bad area. Now, it's not so nice.

13 hours ago, toot said:

More blind reviewers need other than those Motoring Journalists that borrow cars and appear to not put their own money where their mouths are.

'There are non as blind as those that will not see', or spend enough time with cars before bigging them up.

 

 

I saw one of these on the road the other day, and I have to say it looked great.

Wasn't in orange, mind.

The orange are really just a bit too much for me.  They certainly are noticeable from a long way off on a fine sunny day & even a low visibility one.

I have had Orange Jimny,s and Land Rovers over the years but would not have a car in the colour as my driving habits need the cloak of invisibility.

 

Lots of MG4 about as pretty cheap as far as Advance Payment from Motability, and i see a good few Taxi / Private Hire cars and Uber, and they are Black. 

(Only available cheaper than those below on Motability list is the MINI Electric, Zoe or Leaf.)

 

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by toot

This could prove interesting if they can scale it up.  Energy from thin air.

Quote

A team from the University of Cambridge used a solar-powered reactor to transform CO₂ from real-world sources into an inexhaustible energy supply, which they say can be developed for use at an industrial scale.

 

The research took inspiration from carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems, which until now has captured CO₂ in order to pump it into underground storage.

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/clean-energy-carbon-dioxide-solar-b2360280.html

Well that's very light on detail and the process for magically transforming into "syngas" which we can use how? More BS to get a research grant from a gullible sponsor?

Gotta love the optimism on here  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngas 

 

https://www.biogreen-energy.com/syngas#:~:text=What is syngas%3F,other hydrocarbons and condensable compounds. 

‘Inexhaustible energy supply’ - perpetual motion? 🙄

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by Gaz
Being too cynical

"Inexhaustible energy supply"

 

"Syngas from CO2"

 

Gotta love the gullibility on here! 😆

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by J.R.

Not my words. I did say "this could be interesting if they can scale it up'. 

No gullibility at all. I'm sceptical but I'd rather be optimistic 😉

There has to be a lot of things happening in the 4 countries of the UK in the next 7 and a bit years with the governments actually doing stuff and not just talking about it.

So much BS from those that are in power now and those that might stay or get replaced.

 

Yet another Transport Minister in Scotland.

Yet another serial  failure in each post she holds, which has been many.

 

All the best wishes for those involved in the commercial and manufacturing side and investing.

They need it because the Governments can let them fail any time they want. They keep talking about talking about spending on stuff they can not back all the way and they let people down.  Millions and millions over the pass decade has gone to those that filled their pockets and got away with providing crap equipment / technology.

Stuff now not fit for purpose.

 

http://elementaldigital.co.uk/scottish-government-unveils-ideal-public-ev-charging-offering

 

 

What is needed in many many towns and lots more in locations around the cities.

Not just tourist sites and miles from where people want to be leaving their vehicles.

 

The Scottish Green Party is a problem in Scotland as far as the move to EV,s. This Minister who has a place in the Scottish Government.

Cycling is needed, he cycles, just not everyplace and we pay for his use of public transport or his getting where he can not walk or cycle.

http://scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/patrick-harvie-dragged-one-civil-30058011

 

 

 

It is 2030 that is the date for the end of the sale of new conventional petrol & diesel cars in the UK not 2035.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by toot

36 minutes ago, toot said:

 

It is 2030 that is the date for the end of the sale of new conventional petrol & diesel cars in the UK not 2035

 

It won't happen.

Quite possibly not.

 

Like the Recycle Scheme in Scotland that is not going ahead and has just lost 60 people their jobs. (well jobs that were not required in the first place.)

Announced by the Scottish Green co-leader & a member of the Government in Scotland today.

Can not organise a pith up and glass recycling in a brewery or any place else.  But then the UK Government made sure they could not.

http://scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/lorna-slater-announces-drs-company-30280126

 

But then people can put their glass in the recycle bins there are already available and without paying and then getting a deposit refund.

They can put cans and plastic bottles and cartons in the appropriate bins as well.

(We did pay a deposit for lemonade bottles for decades with at least 4 companies in Scotland and it was 20 pence deposit with the last that did it, not the 10 pence that some remember which was a long time back.  Us that actually bought the lemonade / pop / ginger knew the cost & how much we got refunded.)

 

Edited 20 June, 20232 yr by toot

2 hours ago, toot said:

Can not organise a pith up and glass recycling in a brewery or any place else. 

And Lorna Slater speaks so highly of you.  

@Paws4ThotAs well she should as i am around and about taking the effort to report in faulty chargers & working ones and help people out where i can to get their vehicle charged which is more than her or her co-leader are doing much off.

They are more of an obstruction to net zero than an aid. 

The 2 of them should maybe travel by EV to more rural areas with a CPS card and a mobile phone and see just how much there needs doing before many can use EV's for  their own, families or work / business needs around Scotland and further afield.

 

The Ministerial Limo might well be an EV that she gets driven in. 

It might just be one of the Skoda Superb though that the First Minster & Deputy used to get taken about in.

23 hours ago, EnterName said:

That's good to hear. I've done my time in a council flat, and while I am happy to be out of it, I do remember there are people who still live in the area.

Before that, I lived near Stockland Green, which at the time wasn't a particularly bad area. Now, it's not so nice.

 

I am a fan of Birmingham and am constantly surprised that so many believe Manchester is a greater city than Birmingham despite it being less than half the size although the whole Black Country is oft regarded as a separate city/area. 

 

Birmingham has many poor areas but also some quite wealth areas.  Drove through back areas of Solihull and it has some very wealthy areas.  Worked in the financial area of Birmingham ie around Snowhill and some opulent building there.

 

After 13 years of Conservative rules, well 5 years with the Lib-Dems, it is no surprise that social inequality has risen and the lack of care for the poor is very evident from our government over that period.  Proper minimum wages and benefits whilst they continue to pander to the well off.  The introduction and then dropping of the extra 1.5% NI benefit high wage and the continued and even extended tax relief on very high amounts of annual pension contributions has long been an area where some expected a change in tax laws to reduce that 42% tax avoidance percentage.

  

The lack of compassion by the UK government on the massive hike in interest rates, partly through their own incompetence ie the Truss/Kwatang debacle, shows little regard to both mortgage holders and those indirectly affected rents who are being asked to pay the mortgages of their landlord's higher buy to rent mortgages. An unbelieve lack of empathy in my view.  Much more pain to come for these people but hopefully a change in government next year will start to easy this rampant capitalism.