While the regulated prices are constantly increasing, alternative operators are increasing the prices, and without any commitment. In 2020, a reassuring advertising site offered him a group purchase operation of the online comparator. With the Houston Electricity Rates you can choose the same.
More and more individuals are finally daring to take advantage of the opening to competition. After ten years of market liberalization, EDF and Engie still dominate, but 18% of electricity subscribers have now gone to an alternative supplier, like 26% of gas users. The movement has been accelerating for three years.
Twenty operators are competing today. Heavyweights: Direct Energie (2.5 million customers), bought by Total, or the Italian Eni (1 million customers). But also a host of newcomers, like Mint Energie. Launched in 2017, it has already recruited more than 30,000 customers. With a classic strategy: reduce costs and margins to offer prices that are always lower than those regulated. You might as well take advantage of this price war.
How much can I save?
Our comparisons prove it, choosing an alternative supplier often turns out to be very advantageous. Count 7 to 11% savings if electricity is your main source of energy, 2 to 12% for a gas subscription. A gain is of 200 to 350 dollars per year for a large house. Notice to large families: the greater the energy consumption, the greater the savings, in value, of course, but also in percentage.
What happens after a year?
If certain contracts guarantee fixed prices over one or two years, others index them to regular increases in regulated prices: they can then change from one month to another. In gas, good news, the most advantageous offers from our selection, Alterna and Dyneff, are also the most stable. In electricity, on the other hand, you have to choose: the best deals do not include any guaranteed duration of the tariff. If you are resistant to risk, prefer a fixed offer over a year, like those of Alterna or Butagaz, a little less attractive, but still 7 to 8% cheaper than that of EDF.
If you are ready to regularly monitor your invoice, enter those from Mint Energie or Cdiscount. The risk of your bill suddenly exploding remains low the fluctuations in regulated prices have been rather low in recent years and nothing prevents you from switching to another offer in the event of an explosion. Subscribers are free to terminate their contract at any time, without charge or intervention by a technician.
What internet tools to help you?
In this new jungle, comparators reference with more or less exhaustiveness the market offers. The most complete and neutral is that of the National Energy Ombudsman. Others, offer free telephone advice and can assist you in taking out a subscription. They also organize group purchasing operations which allow exclusive prices to be negotiated with suppliers, up to 5% more advantageous than standard offers, or tailor-made options. Be careful however, the process can take a few weeks.
What are the pitfalls of contracts?
Repeated calls, withdrawn signatures in a recent report, the Energy Mediator denounced the excessive canvassing of stakeholders in the sector. Eni and Engie in particular, accused of pushing for unwanted subscriptions. Beware, therefore, of too insistent phone calls. If you have already cracked, do not panic: you have fourteen days to retract. Also, pay attention to the discounts posted by suppliers. Check that they are not only related to the price per kilowatt-hour but that they include the cost of the subscription and the taxes.
