Things are looking pretty brutal in southern Sweden for the coming winter. I have some acquaintances who are on thermal and who usually get pretty steep bills in December and January and they ain't just looking at a 7% increase that's for sure...
I use very, very little gas. Currently my standing charge is about 4 times the cost of the (tiny amount of) gas I use, at least.
To avoid the gas standing charge I'd have to remove the meter, physically. Not my property, can't do it. So I have to pay. Funny system.
If you are renting, you are perfectly entitled to change energy suppliers and/or have meters removed or upgraded. Your landlord has no say in it. (For one thing, the meter belongs to the energy company!).
The only exception to this is if you are renting a room in a HMO that uses a common energy supply for all rooms, or if you landlord pays your energy bills.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_rentin...
I can see a lot of financial problems ahead but equally(?) a lot of people not just sitting on their arses doing sfa. Shopping centres will benefit from extra traffic, but may not necessarily get the cash. People may just wander...
I'm working on my W22 strategies now. More home (low key 90/10) exercise, more outside walks, family get togethers (share a house), stodgy energy-food, more blankets, bed early.....
Geothermal?
Why would that go up (significantly)? Seems like geothermal would be pretty resistant? IE, the cost to run things like pumps should still be a fraction of the cost to heat using gas.
Update: He drilled 160 meters into mountain.
As opposed to heat pumps, which you described.
If prices rise 5x as is expected, we're looking at ~8000€ for a single month. (1€/KwH x 5)
This house is > 70s, doesn't have a chimney, but we're considering installing a cast-iron wood burner in the house center for this winter.
https://www.aftonbladet.se/minekonomi/a/66p5LQ/ved-rusning-l...
But the consumption is only ~800KwH for August.