UK energy prices continue to rise. EDF, a French owned company has just announced a 6.5% increase in gas and 7.5% increase in electricity prices with effect from 2nd March. Previously other energy companies have announced similar price rises within similar ranges.
As far as I can see there should be no more increases for a few months, although I do fear that the upward trend will continue as Europe returns to more positive economic growth and demand grows as living standards improves and population increases.
Prices for petrol and diesel fuel are now at their highest ever, virtually double from the 2002 price. Heating oil prices have been rising by far more than gas and electricity prices. 40pence a litre was common in August 2010 and by Christmas many people were paying around 75 pence a litre; since then the price seems to have settled at 55 pence a litre or thereabouts.
Wood pellet prices have remained stable at around £185 per tonne; what has probably happened is that as demand for wood pellets for biomass fuel has increased, so efficiency in the distribution chain has driven prices down, but the prices have been kept stable as the transportation costs have increased, making up for the basic commodity price reductions.
Whatever fossil fuel or dirty renewable energy you use it seems you can look forward to higher prices, with fuel of all kinds taking up an increasingly large share of your expenditure.
Filed under: biomass, climate change, electricity, energy, fuel, gas, natural gas Tagged: | wood pellet prices
