I am writing this on a beautiful afternoon in mid-October when the temperature is 17oC. October has been so warm that I have been using electric heaters instead of turning on my central heating. Actually, I am keen to use my central heating less this coming winter. Being just one person living in a five-bedroom Rectory makes this possible.
I also have a house that I let out in Balsall Common. As landlord, I am installing both a draft proof back door and cavity wall insultation. I am hoping that this will help the tenant to use less energy this winter.
I am astonished by the present energy prices, especially by the price of gas. 25 years ago I was working in the UK gas market and wholesale gas cost about 15p/therm. Today it more like £4.50/therm, so thirty times more expensive. This has been caused by the war in Ukraine and the worsening relationships between Russia and Europe. Russia has massively cut back its supply of gas to Europe leading to shortages and high prices.
High wholesale gas prices have led to much higher domestic prices for gas and electricity. Around 40% of UK electricity is generated from gas, so high gas prices quickly lead to high electricity prices. In fact the domestic prices would have gone up much further if it wasn’t for the price caps put in place by the government. These price caps protect domestic consumers from the worst of the price rises, but the government has to pay the difference between the cap and the market price, which is extremely expensive, and which we will all ultimately pay for through taxes.
It seems to me that there are lots of important reasons for saving energy this winter. The first is about saving money. High energy prices mean that we save more money by reducing our energy consumption. And saving money for ourselves also saves money for the government because they have to pay out their subsidies on less energy. If many people work on saving energy then this reduces the overall demand for energy, and that helps to bring the wholesale prices down, which again saves money for the government.
Some people experience fuel poverty. They radically reduce their energy use because they have no other option financially. Many of us can afford to choose how much energy we use, but if we deliberately use less then this can represent solidarity with the poor, because reducing energy use becomes an experience we all share. I also think reducing energy use can be a sign of resistance against the pressure that Russia applies by reducing energy supplies. Reducing energy consumption also has environmental benefits, by helping to reduce carbon emissions. So let’s do what we can to reduce our energy use this winter.
With prayers and best wishes, Fr Patrick
Prayer about fuel poverty
God of love, we pray for those who suffer fuel poverty.
Help us to understand what it is like to be poor and marginalised.
Fire our imaginations and empower us to work for the relief of poverty;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer adapted from Angela Ashwin)