Fuel Poverty In Russia...

[sandyRoe]

We've seen TV programmes showing Moscow pensioners who survive on a very small income. Assuming that heating isn't provided free, how can they afford to heat their homes during their bitterly cold winters?

[bednobs]

have we? i must have been asleep i'm afraid

[TWR]

Is the UK going to follow Sandy?

[tonyav]

Well the power companies are doing their best TWR !.

[TWR]

Hi Tony, I've not long become a member / Subscriber of WHICH Magazine, some interesting comments on there regards the Rip Off Energy lot.

[tonyav]

Hi TWR, saw something last week about the power company chiefs being asked to appear in front of a parliamentary committee to explain their price rises and hardly any turned up !, must be scared of what questions they would be asked imo.

[TWR]

It will come to a head Tony, that chap from Ireland that was in the meeting, he came out with some home truths, there was something said in a magazine this morning saying that some are now going back to cutting firewood etc, tells you something doesn't it

[bednobs]

i don't really get how cutting wood is going to help with energy bills - unless people are planning on making a fire on their living room carpet to keep warm

[sandyRoe]

Some houses still have chimneys, mine does, so they could burn the wood there. And you might work up a bit of a sweat with all the chopping and sawing.

[TWR]

Have you never heard of a fireplace Beds?

[Mamyalynne]

No Chimbley here but I could get a brazier.

[boxtops]

One of the guys who turned up to that Parliamentary committee was wearing his poppy upside down... :-(

[bednobs]

ok, so how does that relate to rising energy bills? people who heat by wood fires aREnt subject to the price increases in gas and electricity

[sandyRoe]

Those who can't afford gas or electricity might return to using the fireplace.

[Mamyalynne]

I can see that as a possible for those with a fireplace, as long as they safely remove or pay to have removed any appliances, pay to have the flue reopened and pay to have the chimney swept.

[sandyRoe]

It looks as if it's going to be cheaper to freeze.
I'm still puzzled about how the Babushkas manage.

[whiskeryron]

Isn't it time we invested in this type of thing ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_heating

WR.