On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:30:51 -0000, "flash"
wrote:


"MM" wrote in message
.. .
I've just heard that Phoenix Natural Gas in Northern Ireland is
raising prices again, this time by 17%. The price was raised 30% in
Septmber, so that costs will have gone up by more than 50% in four
months. The General Consumer Council said it was "appalling" and a
"severe blow". (BBC)

Surely oil must now be cheaper? But what about electricity? E.g. using
a thermostatically controlled fan heater. Gas seems now to be an
extortionate luxury, and with oil one does at least have the
competition between local suppliers.

I would be interested in some figures on this sort of thing as I am trying
to work out whether it is cheaper to heat my water overnight using oil or
economy 7.

For heating water overnight E7 is surely most economical, but what if
someone wants a bath in the evening? Is the water going to be hot
enough by then? I don't like the idea of E7 either for night storage
heaters, which, in my experience, belch out enough heat to compete
with the devil early on, then get progressively colder throughout the
day.

MM