Cheap Here In Comparison

[intumult]

The UK's biggest domestic energy firm has hit millions of households with its biggest-ever hike in gas bills.

British Gas, which has 15.9 million customers, is raising gas prices by a record 35%, with electricity prices up 9%. A 25% rise for dual fuel bills means customers will now pay an average of £1,317 a year - £404 more than at the beginning of the year after British Gas also raised prices in January.

£1,317 = 85,605 Baht @ 65 Baht - £1 or 7,000 baht month for heating and lighting !!! Water bills are astronomic too.

With my water bill averaging 50 baht mth & my electric bill regularly under 1,000 Baht mth here in Thailand the thought of those prices are terrifying.

Add to that the mails I get from the UK telling me how people are struggling now financially week on week, makes me feel so much better to be here in LOS where I eat out everyday, can drive where I want without a lot of thought at 11 Baht for my LPG and stay where I want at cheap prices.

Yes, sometimes we whinge about life here, but in reality we are ahving a better time of it than our counterparts back home.

[JOHN2]

The UK's biggest domestic energy firm has hit millions of households with its biggest-ever hike in gas bills.

British Gas, which has 15.9 million customers, is raising gas prices by a record 35%, with electricity prices up 9%. A 25% rise for dual fuel bills means customers will now pay an average of £1,317 a year - £404 more than at the beginning of the year after British Gas also raised prices in January.

£1,317 = 85,605 Baht @ 65 Baht - £1 or 7,000 baht month for heating and lighting !!! Water bills are astronomic too.

With my water bill averaging 50 baht mth & my electric bill regularly under 1,000 Baht mth here in Thailand the thought of those prices are terrifying.

Add to that the mails I get from the UK telling me how people are struggling now financially week on week, makes me feel so much better to be here in LOS where I eat out everyday, can drive where I want without a lot of thought at 11 Baht for my LPG and stay where I want at cheap prices.

Yes, sometimes we whinge about life here, but in reality we are ahving a better time of it than our counterparts back home.

50 bt water bill,do you shower?

[bachelor]

Maybe a little light at 50Bht but I think not far off. Mine is usually hovering around 90Bht. Although I'm not convinced the meter is read regular !!

As for the cost of heating.......we need to consider switching the heating on in LOs is hardly a comparison to be made with the UK.

[Carib]

For heating read : airconditioning

[NotNew2You]

£1,317 = 85,605 Baht @ 65 Baht - £1 or 7,000 baht month for heating and lighting !!! Water bills are astronomic too.

With my water bill averaging 50 baht mth & my electric bill regularly under 1,000 Baht mth here in Thailand the thought of those prices are terrifying.

Without any info on the size of the English house being cooled or heated and the amount of water being used, the financial figures you quote are completely meaningless. Obviously, the cost to heat/cool a residence is dependant on its size and what temp. the owner likes to maintain.

I know many people in LOS with houses/condos that cost B 7000 and more (a lot more) to cool every month. There are also lots more (like me) who pay only B 500-B 1500 a month depending on the season. Water is pretty cheap however, being B 100-B 250 per month usually (though it is of low quality).

[bachelor]

For heating read : airconditioning

Not everyone has airconditioning to take into account. I know many residents who say a fan is sufficient.

[chickenslegs]

£1,317 = 85,605 Baht @ 65 Baht - £1 or 7,000 baht month for heating and lighting !!! Water bills are astronomic too.

With my water bill averaging 50 baht mth & my electric bill regularly under 1,000 Baht mth here in Thailand the thought of those prices are terrifying.

Without any info on the size of the English house being cooled or heated and the amount of water being used, the financial figures you quote are completely meaningless. Obviously, the cost to heat/cool a residence is dependant on its size and what temp. the owner likes to maintain.

I know many people in LOS with houses/condos that cost B 7000 and more (a lot more) to cool every month. There are also lots more (like me) who pay only B 500-B 1500 a month depending on the season. Water is pretty cheap however, being B 100-B 250 per month usually (though it is of low quality).

I think the OP talked about the AVERAGE cost - so the figures are not 'meaningless'.

The point being that utillity bills for the AVERAGE UK home are much higher than for the AVERAGE ex-pat home here in Thailand.

I can't argue with that.

[Firefan]

Yeah just admin costs and yearly real estate taxes on my tiny condo in Scandinavia adds up 15000 Baht a month. When I live in it that is an additional 8000 Baht in electricity/heat/water where I in Bangkok pay 4000 baht management fee, no RE taxes, and about 3000 in elec/water.

Cheers!

[a2396]

When I lived in Arizona, 10 YEARS AGO, my electric bill was sometimes $300 U.S. per month ie about 10,000 bht. That was for a modest single story house. Never mind car insurance, property taxes, state income taxes, etc, etc, etc. Commute to work (20 miles) took 1 hour, at least. Go back? No way.

[intumult]

£1,317 = 85,605 Baht @ 65 Baht - £1 or 7,000 baht month for heating and lighting !!! Water bills are astronomic too.

With my water bill averaging 50 baht mth & my electric bill regularly under 1,000 Baht mth here in Thailand the thought of those prices are terrifying.

Without any info on the size of the English house being cooled or heated and the amount of water being used, the financial figures you quote are completely meaningless. Obviously, the cost to heat/cool a residence is dependant on its size and what temp. the owner likes to maintain.

I know many people in LOS with houses/condos that cost B 7000 and more (a lot more) to cool every month. There are also lots more (like me) who pay only B 500-B 1500 a month depending on the season. Water is pretty cheap however, being B 100-B 250 per month usually (though it is of low quality).

The quote is for an average UK household bill for gas and electricity over a year, given on Yahoo this morning.

Yeah, LOL, I shower. Twice a day every day and often 3 times. Low water pressure though - maybe that accounts for the amount of water I use. And I wash the car at home.

I rarely use air-con and prefer a fan as air con affects my chest and breathing, making me wheezy.

7,000 baht a month seems a lot for electric, then again, each to his own

[MonkeyHouse]

Why compare prices of electric in the UK to thailand???

When posting did you take into a account that the average wage in the UK is ALOT higher than in thailand!

Its only cheap here if you earn as much as you do back in your home country.

[Chaimai]

Add to that the mails I get from the UK telling me how people are struggling now financially week on week, makes me feel so much better to be here in LOS where I eat out everyday, can drive where I want without a lot of thought at 11 Baht for my LPG and stay where I want at cheap prices.

... and don't even start me off on Community charge/Council tax/Poll tax - £200 (13,000 Baht) per month on my UK house.

[kmart]

The UK is not self-sufficient in fuel now, and is at the beck and call of Russian supply. British Gas should change its name.

Although 35% is a biiiggg hike in prices.

[roamer]

Given the earlier price rise this year its over 50% price rise, there is real anger here, hardly surprising when they announced the following today:

"Anger over £1bn Centrica profits

A report for Centrica warns prices may rise even more

Consumer groups have expressed anger as British Gas owner Centrica revealed £5m-per-day profits, after announcing a record price hike on Wednesday.

Centrica defended the price rise, and pointed to the high wholesale gas costs that had cut its profits by 20% to £992m during the first half of 2008.

Energywatch said the size of Centrica's profits and the 35% price increase by British Gas would outrage consumers.

Age Concern warned that many pensioners would be unable to pay for winter fuel.

The earnings report and anger at the planned price increase comes at a time when the UK is having to rethink the whole of its energy strategy. "

Not easy comparing UK with LOS although I would suspect that amongst vulnerable groups in both countries its cheaper to run a fan than it is to heat your home. Make no mistake about it, if your a pensioner on a fixed income you gonna find it difficult this winter, if you add this onto the other costs that have soared recently its going to be a nightmare for some folk.

Oil prices, to which gas is indexed, have been dropping sharply of late, its no coincidence that they got this one in before a further drop in oil prices would have reduced the scope for such a rise.

Has to be said that if the North Sea oil & gas reserves had been managed more prudently instead of being exploited/plundered Klondyke style to booster the exchequers of the governments of the day we would not be in this position.

Still lets not forget British Gas are doing their bit for energy conservation, today they sent me a free gift of 4 energy saving lightbulbs, shame that my new apartment like the other 80 in the complex no longer uses the old fittings ! :D