The number of disputes related to gas and electricity prices doubled last year. The national energy ombudsman pinpoints several suppliers who have abused consumers.
Some gas and electricity suppliers have misleadingly passed on various price increases over the past year. This is the observation made by the national energy ombudsman, who has just released his annual report for 2022, a particularly painful year for consumers with prices that have literally jumped. The independent administrative authority even sends a “red card” to several suppliers, pointing to a sharp increase in disputes related to pricing practices from one year to the next.
Price increases passed on unreasonably by several suppliers
Disputes themselves have not increased between 2021 and 2022: 30,558 last year. But this sham stability can be explained by the stricter regulation of door-to-door and telephone canvassing, the continued deployment of communication counters such as Linky and the improvement in the processing of complaints. The share of disputes related to price changes has doubled compared to 2021, rising from 8 to 16%.
” The unprecedented increases in energy prices have often been passed on by certain suppliers in a way that is not very transparent, even incomprehensible or misleading, causing a sharp increase in this type of dispute “, explains the authority. She does not hesitate to cite suppliers who have caused harm to consumers.
Thus, Gaz de Bordeaux, OHM Énergie, Mint Énergie, Wekiwi and Mega Énergie were all singled out by the mediator for their practices observed in 2022. Mint Énergie has the highest rate of disputes: 856 for 100,000 contracts. In comparison, Engie drops to 63 per 100,000, EDF to only 42.
Sharp increase just after subscription, refusal to apply the tariff shield… bad practices are (alas) not lacking
Bad practices vary, but the national energy ombudsman has identified 4 main ones:
- OHM Energy, already pinned several times in recent years, displayed very attractive prices, encouraging consumers to subscribe. But the company has suddenly imposed steep price increases on customers, sometimes just weeks after signing up.
- Mint Énergie, Mega Énergie and Wekiwi have for their part completely modified current contracts (with higher prices) without informing their customers in a fair and transparent manner.
- Gaz de Bordeaux, for its part, refused to market contracts allowing it to benefit from the tariff shield.
- Wekiwi, Mega Énergie and Gaz de Bordeaux also marketed offers whose price, indexed to market prices, was not known at the time the energy was consumed.
To better protect the French, the mediator promises to formulate new proposals in the coming months, with a guide to good practices expected for the start of the school year, written in consultation with energy players.
Source : National Energy Ombudsman
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