this is a really weird headline, with the use of “ration” like that.
Who doesn’t “ration” i.e. restrict their energy use? i have always done this - I turn off lights in rooms when no one is in there, I turn off heating when I’m out of the house, I don’t turn heating on until it’s really cold and I’m maxed out on jumpers and woolly underpants. It’s not just to save money - aren’t we all supposed to be restricting our energy use, what with climate change and all that?
So the article isn’t really about people having to restrict their energy use when before they didn’t, it’s really about a survey done by Citizens Advice to highlight the hardships renters endure thanks to poorly maintained and insulated houses. It seems that Citizens Advice were the ones who chose the word “ration” and to put the focus on people reducing their energy use to save money, but I don’t understand what makes them think that will make their survey results more powerful.
Something straightforward like, “Latest price hikes unfairly hit poor people in badly maintained rental housing” would seem to me to be much better.
Electricity is like the cheapest fucking thing I pay. Even with EV charging every night.
Water and council and higher.
God damn that is amazing to me. I live in Texas. Electricity is almost always my highest bill other than rent of course.
This is the UK c/ so most people don’t have AC running 24/7/365 like you would in Texas.
It’s also just way more expensive. Like I don’t think I used AC or the heater at all in February and it’ll still be the next biggest bill. Although I did get charged a low usage fee which is bullshit.
I don’t find this surprising or useful as a statistic. People tend to spend their money no matter what their income is. I know doctor couples easily making more than half a million per year who have to be careful near the end of the month because they spent everything. I know people who work entry level jobs who likewise have to be careful. The lifestyle of the two groups is overall very different, but both a rationing the same things because there are only a few things that can be rationed - most spending are bills that you can’t change anymore (rent, insurance, car payment…) and that leaves energy for both groups because you can not make a trip, adjust the thermostat…
Of course the doctors in the above pair likely is maxing out their 401k, has a much nicer house they are making those payments on - they will have a better future - but that is money they cannot touch today. They also are spending a lot more money and so have a lot nicer lifestyle. However in the moment they are rationing energy use just like everyone else despite being much richer than everyone else.
I’m not sure the above is even bad - you can’t take it with you - even in most religions (including atheism), and you almost never know how long you will live. Even if you save for a “rainy day” don’t save too much as you could die tomorrow - may as well enjoy it today and if tomorrow comes ration energy then.
