How to guarantee users “better protection” ? In the liberalized electricity and gas markets, where EDF and Engie face competition, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) intends to push all suppliers to more “transparency” and of “readability” in their offers – a claim already made by consumer associations.
On Thursday, July 11, the French regulator announced the adoption of some ” Guidelines “. It is up to each supplier, by September 30, to commit or not to follow these thirteen measures. On its website, the independent administrative authority plans to display the list of those who will comply… but also of those who will refuse.
In a statement, the National Association of Retail Energy Operators said it “share the goals” of this device, while asking “flexibility regarding implementation deadlines”. This corpus, intended to protect households, could be extended, from 2025, to non-residential customers (businesses, communities, etc.).
The CRE expects each supplier to clearly define its offers, according to a pre-established typology. They can be at a fixed price. Others are indexed – either on the regulated electricity tariff or the benchmark gas price, or on the evolution of the wholesale markets where retailers obtain their supplies.
Notice period
To make the amounts to be paid more predictable, it is also recommended that each offer presents “the price evolution formula during the first twelve months of the contract or, failing that, a price ceiling over this period”. In the event of any changes, suppliers are invited to provide details “the impact on the customer’s annual bill and on the estimated amount of monthly payments”.
If a retailer promises a price or indexation formula, the regulator recommends that it “do not modify them” along the way – in 2022, in the midst of soaring prices on the wholesale market, disputes related to pricing practices had increased. And when a supplier simply decides to stop an offer, the ” Guidelines ” now suggest that he extend the notice period from one to two months to inform customers.
“Without a law, the CRE cannot impose anything, recalls Rachid Bouabane-Schmitt, its secretary general. But if they do not respect their commitments, suppliers will find themselves in conflict with the consumer code or the commercial code.”
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