Cold Weather Payments

[QUOTE="Tekkytyke, post: 2099443, member: 6716 "All this is covered by various Government decrees. It is probably as well since energy prices in Italy are amongst the highest in Europe.[/QUOTE]
PS When I say expensive. We live in a restored small farmhouse on a ridge in the foothills of the Appenine mountains. We did have extra roof insulation but the thick solid walls, whilst keeping summer heat out are not the most efficient insulation wise nor is Italian double glazing the best (they have a funny way of fitting the frames to the building which does not seal that well. We have to use GPL and our gas bills (underfloor) are around 1900 euros per annum (and we only use it upstairs and two rooms downstairs at the far end of the house from the kitchen which has a wood oven and hall which has wood stove both of which heat the bulk of the house We spend about 300 euros per year on wood for them . The electricity is around 1100 euros per year. So our total energy costs are around 3300 per year ( 275 per month average) most of which is spent December to mid March. On the plus side, prima casa (1st house) does not have to pay rates so that saves us about 1500 euros if we base it on a rough estimate of what a similar property in the UK would cost. Nevertheless it is still makes it around 150 euros a month by comparison making it our highest monthly outlay after general food and clothing shopping.

 

Slightly off-topic but the tap water at our place in France and anywhere else served by the same reservoir wasn't safe for human consumption, even in cooking, from 2005 to 2017 because of elevated levels of arsenic (and fluoride but it's the arsenic that got people's attention). Apparently this didn't warrant any discount whatsoever.

 

Meant that the Government is subsidising energy companies by having to make cold weather payments.

 

Check out how many train lines were bought by state owned foreign companies! Chinese, Dutch and German to name but three. Ironic given the Tories hatred for all things state owned!