Whatever your personal and financial circumstances, it's hard not to be concerned about the skyrocketing cost of energy in the UK at the moment.
Actually, scrap that. It's hard not to be worried about the cost of pretty much everything in the UK right now. Almost overnight, we seem to be facing the very real prospect of elderly people sitting in the cold, and of whole families having to choose between a shower and a hot meal - because, at the rate we're going, affording both simply won't be an option for many.
For now, things are still "generally" calm. Most people won't yet see the full picture, or the size of the crisis that is looming. People on a fixed deal, for instance, won't see any change in their energy bills for the time being, and will carry on blissfully with their lives. Great. Fantastic. Happy days. But there's no doubt that when their fixed deal ends, they'll struggle to find one as cheap as the one they have now. That's when people will really see the proverbial hit the fan.
UK Energy Suppliers Going Bust
Some people, however, are already feeling the full weight of the energy burden that is steamrolling its way towards the rest of us. These are the people whose energy suppliers have already gone bust. In the blink of an eye, many of them are now expected to pay almost double what they were paying only a couple of months ago, with no say at all in which supplier they've been lumbered with.
Oh, and if they were in credit with their old supplier and expect that money to be passed on to the new one, they should think again - that's gone too.
Welcome to Britain 2022
The fact of the matter is that, whether you're locked into a deal or not, this crisis isn't going anywhere fast. It's a global problem. And, just to rub salt into the wound, it doesn't help that we have an incompetent government constantly walking around in a Covid-obsessed daze, while other countries that are rich in supplies wait eagerly to watch Britain beg. We should never be in this situation.
But our over-reliance on other countries, and the generally dire state of the nation, is a discussion for another day.
The price cap is expected to rise again by April this year - by up to 30%, if the experts are to be believed. Terrifying.
So why are prices going up so steeply?
The story goes that there is a global squeeze on energy supplies, which naturally pushes prices up. A cold winter in Europe last year also used up stored gas, so supplies are now low. There are plenty of other factors at play, but the basic theme is that demand is high, so prices are rising steeply. End of story. European countries seem to be bearing the brunt of the crisis.
What can we do to keep our bills down?
Not a lot at the moment. It's a global problem, and prices are going up. Full stop.
The only thing left to do, if we want to get through the winter unscathed, is to use a bit of common sense and really tighten up on the things we can still control.
Installing and using smart technology can really help. Many people still think of it as a gimmick, but a smart thermostat makes sure the heating only comes on when it's needed. People who embrace this technology almost always see their bills come down.
Make sure there are no gaps around windows and doors, and keep the family to shorter showers. It sounds straightforward because it is - and right now, it's the only thing we can control. These little things are all worth doing if we don't want to be penalised any more than we already are.