English
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Answer:

I can change the electricity supplier

Did you know?

Different suppliers offer electricity produced in different ways. For example, in the UK, Octopus Energy offers a 100% renewable-only contract. That means that all the electricity is produced using renewable resources only, such as wind and solar power (Octopus Energy, n.d.)
Sources:

1 https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/private-versus-public-electricity-distribution-utilities-are-outcomes-different-end-users

2 https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/private-versus-public-electricity-distribution-utilities-are-outcomes-different-end-users

Factor 3: trade markets and regulations

Flaticon Icon Some countries have rules on what prices the suppliers can ask people to pay. Often there is a maximum price that suppliers can ask (this is often called "price cap").

1

Most countries still use fossil fuels (coal, petrol, and gas) which have prices that change depending on many different reasons, e.g. conflicts in the region where the fuel is extracted.

2

Flaticon Icon

Some countries give subsidies, meaning they give a tax break or a better trade deal to suppliers, based on specific conditions.

3

Private suppliers will try to make the most profit. A part of the electricity bill you pay goes to its investors.

4

Person throwing cash

You can read more about the UK 2022 increase in energy prices on the Carbon Brief.

Sources:

1 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-updates-price-cap-level-and-tightens-rules-suppliers

2 https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-gas-prices-expensive-11646767172

3 https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-subsidies

4 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/24/heat-is-on-for-energy-firms-as-high-prices-send-profits-soaring

....so, it is complicated

  • The cost of electricity depends on so many different things. They're often specific to each country, their geography, availability of natural resources, and politics.

Flaticon Icon

For example, for the same amount of electricity.....

  • a person in Denmark pays $0.36, in Australia, $0.23, and in India, $0.08, on average.

    1

  • in the UK, a person pays as little as £0.258 or as much as £0.282

    2

electrician connecting switch to lightbulb

Did you know?

Some people and businesses produce their own electricity! A common way is to install solar photovoltaic panels on roofs (Green Match, n.d.).
Sources:

1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/263492/electricity-prices-in-selected-countries/

2 https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-cost-electricity-kwh-uk#nogo

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Have you ever wondered why is the electricity bill so expensive?

four money bills on fire Photo by Jp Valery on Unsplash

There are lots of factors involved in making and transferring electricity. These include:

  • infrastructure — the stuff that needs to be built and maintained

  • supplier costs — who takes care of the infrastructure?

  • trade markets and regulations — rules from governments and the effect of trading between countries and companies

Factor 1: the need for infrastructure

Electricity must be safely generated in power stations.

It's then transferred to houses and businesses. pylons and electrical wires

This means that countries need to build power stations, long networks of wires, and sub-stations.

Engineers and other professionals must be employed to make sure that all the parts work well.

Did you know?

The underwater parts of offshore wind turbines can act as artificial reefs, providing new habitats for sea life (Oceanography, 2020).

Factor 2: who supplies the electricity?

Depending on which country you live in, electricity may be privately or publicly owned.

Flaticon Icon

If the electricity is publicly-owned, all people in your country will pay the same amount for each unit of electricity used. This is most common in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and South Asia.

If the electricity is privately-owned, people choose which private supplier to use. This means paying different prices depending on the company.

Quiz

In the UK, electricity is privately-owned. This means that:

Did you know?

Different suppliers offer electricity produced in different ways. For example, in the UK, Octopus Energy offers a 100% renewable-only contract. That means that all the electricity is produced using renewable resources only, such as wind and solar power (Octopus Energy, n.d.)

Factor 3: trade markets and regulations

Flaticon Icon Some countries have rules on what prices the suppliers can ask people to pay. Often there is a maximum price that suppliers can ask (this is often called "price cap").

Most countries still use fossil fuels (coal, petrol, and gas) which have prices that change depending on many different reasons, e.g. conflicts in the region where the fuel is extracted.

Flaticon Icon

Some countries give subsidies, meaning they give a tax break or a better trade deal to suppliers, based on specific conditions.

Private suppliers will try to make the most profit. A part of the electricity bill you pay goes to its investors.

Person throwing cash

You can read more about the UK 2022 increase in energy prices on the Carbon Brief.

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....so, it is complicated

  • The cost of electricity depends on so many different things. They're often specific to each country, their geography, availability of natural resources, and politics.

Flaticon Icon

For example, for the same amount of electricity.....

  • a person in Denmark pays $0.36, in Australia, $0.23, and in India, $0.08, on average.

  • in the UK, a person pays as little as £0.258 or as much as £0.282

electrician connecting switch to lightbulb

Did you know?

Some people and businesses produce their own electricity! A common way is to install solar photovoltaic panels on roofs (Green Match, n.d.).

Take Action

Flaticon Icon

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Did you know?

Different suppliers offer electricity produced in different ways. For example, in the UK, Octopus Energy offers a 100% renewable-only contract. That means that all the electricity is produced using renewable resources only, such as wind and solar power (Octopus Energy, n.d.)
Sources:

1 https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/private-versus-public-electricity-distribution-utilities-are-outcomes-different-end-users

2 https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/private-versus-public-electricity-distribution-utilities-are-outcomes-different-end-users

Factor 3: trade markets and regulations

Flaticon Icon Some countries have rules on what prices the suppliers can ask people to pay. Often there is a maximum price that suppliers can ask (this is often called "price cap").

1

Most countries still use fossil fuels (coal, petrol, and gas) which have prices that change depending on many different reasons, e.g. conflicts in the region where the fuel is extracted.

2

Flaticon Icon

Some countries give subsidies, meaning they give a tax break or a better trade deal to suppliers, based on specific conditions.

3

Private suppliers will try to make the most profit. A part of the electricity bill you pay goes to its investors.

4

Person throwing cash

You can read more about the UK 2022 increase in energy prices on the Carbon Brief.

Sources:

1 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-updates-price-cap-level-and-tightens-rules-suppliers

2 https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-gas-prices-expensive-11646767172

3 https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-subsidies

4 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/24/heat-is-on-for-energy-firms-as-high-prices-send-profits-soaring

....so, it is complicated

  • The cost of electricity depends on so many different things. They're often specific to each country, their geography, availability of natural resources, and politics.

Flaticon Icon

For example, for the same amount of electricity.....

  • a person in Denmark pays $0.36, in Australia, $0.23, and in India, $0.08, on average.

    1

  • in the UK, a person pays as little as £0.258 or as much as £0.282

    2

electrician connecting switch to lightbulb

Did you know?

Some people and businesses produce their own electricity! A common way is to install solar photovoltaic panels on roofs (Green Match, n.d.).
Sources:

1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/263492/electricity-prices-in-selected-countries/

2 https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-cost-electricity-kwh-uk#nogo

Take Action

Flaticon Icon

Rumie logo

This logo isn't an ad or affiliate link. It's an organization that shares in our mission, and empowered the authors to share their insights in Byte form.
Rumie vets Bytes for compliance with our Standards. The organization is responsible for the completeness and reliability of the content.
Learn more about how Rumie works with partners.

License:

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