Rising prices, welcome bonuses, significant discounts or frozen prices for a year… Just before winter, it is tempting to change electricity and/or gas supplier. Here’s how to make the right choice.
According to our latest top 5 gas contracts, the price of the bill increases again in November. On the electricity side, it is hardly better since increases of around 10% are expected in February and August 2024. Tariff jumps that neither the welcome bonuses nor the group purchasing operation of the UFC-Que Choisir will be able to mitigate for the vast majority of customers.
So if you think the time has come for you to look elsewhere, here is a list of points to consider before you change supplier. A free approach, at any time, and guaranteed without interruption.
What is your consumption pattern?
Do you heat your home with electricity or gas? The answer to this question will determine the offers that best suit your home. For example, if gas is only used for cooking, you consume around 750 kilowatt hours per year. On the other hand, with heating use, consumption can increase to 17,000 kWh annually for a total bill nine times higher.
Electricity bill: how to understand it
In the same way, in electricity you will have to determine if a peak hours – off-peak hours contract may meet your needs or if the Basic formula is enough for you. The first offers advantageous rates in the evening, at night and/or on weekends. Interesting if you can program the dishwasher at night, as well as the washing machine, one of the most energy-consuming household appliances. According to the government agency, if heating represents 62% of a household’s energy consumption, these everyday objects come in second place (20%) ahead of hot water (11%) and cooking (7% ).
Tariff reduction contracts like Tempo from EDF, with very expensive days when the consumption of the fleet is high, are also offered at advantageous prices but they are risky in the event of a very cold winter and require another means of heating like a fireplace.
Depending on the size of your home, choose the right power for the electric meter. For a household, 6 or 9 KVA are the most common and depend in particular on the heating mode (electric or not). This choice influences the amount of the subscription.
Finally, you will be asked for all this information if you use an offer comparator like the one offered by the energy mediator.
What are the contractual offers on the market?
Although it disappeared on June 30 for gas, EDF’s regulated sales tariff (TRV) for electricity is still current and remains protective for the consumer despite the end of the tariff shield.
There are also contracts indexed to regulated prices (or to the fixed price for gas). The price then follows the fluctuation of the blue rate. Other offers are indexed to market rates. This scenario is more risky. You can win big at first before seeing your bills skyrocket. Last year, jumps of more than 100% took consumers by surprise.
Last option, the contract you choose can be fixed price. This means that its price is blocked for one, two, three or four years, regardless of market movements or changes in regulated prices.
Samuel AUFFRAY
After studying political science in Paris 2 and journalism at the CFJ, Samuel Auffray worked for L’Obs in the field of… Read more
MoneyVox / SA / November 2023