As of: February 9, 2024 3:19 p.m
Trading prices for electricity and gas have been falling for months. Changing your electricity and gas supplier can therefore be worthwhile. How does it work? Tips on switching providers, comparing prices and saving electricity.
Electricity and gas are traded cheaper on wholesale markets and the energy price caps expired at the end of the year. But according to the Lower Saxony Consumer Center, the prices for basic services are well above average in some places. She therefore advises taking a look at your own electricity and gas tariff and considering changing providers. A good reason for this is the annual statement that many have just received. It contains all important information, including the next possible cancellation date.
What does basic care mean?
Consumers will automatically receive gas or electricity from their local basic supplier if they have not signed a contract with an alternative provider. This is basic care.
How do I find out who my primary care provider is?
The network operator is indicated on the energy supplier’s bill, but sometimes only as a 13-digit code. The name can be found on a website of the Federal Network Agency.
What is replacement care?
This is a legally mandated emergency care. It only applies if the current provider can no longer deliver or if there are delays when changing providers.
Save more than 2,000 euros per year by switching
The savings potential is great, especially when it comes to the prices of basic services. “Consumers in Lower Saxony currently pay around 10 to 18 cents per kilowatt hour for gas, depending on the area, while the price for electricity varies from around 30 to 72 cents per kilowatt hour. This means that some customers pay more than twice as much as others “, says René Zietlow-zahl from the Lower Saxony Consumer Center.
With special contracts, however, gas currently costs around 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) and electricity around 26 cents. “With an average annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours of gas, customers can save more than 2,000 euros a year if they leave an expensive basic supply. For electricity, assuming a consumption of 2,500 kilowatt hours per year, this is around 1,300 euros,” explains the energy law expert .
But a change can also be worthwhile for consumers whose basic provider is in the middle range when it comes to prices. Measured against the average prices in Lower Saxony, around 900 euros can be saved on gas and 300 euros on electricity per year.
Increased network fees: Electricity prices will rise from March
Nationwide, more than 100 energy suppliers have announced that they will raise electricity prices for March and April, by an average of ten percent, according to the comparison portal Verivox. As a rule, these are basic suppliers who cite higher network fees, procurement costs and levies as reasons.
Consumer advocates advise that electricity customers should first wait and see whether they receive mail from their provider. In the event of a price increase, there is a special right of termination. Consumers can take advantage of this and look for other tariffs on the market.
Changing provider – here’s how it works
Anyone in basic care can terminate the contract at any time with two weeks’ notice. To ensure that the switch is not made carelessly, consumers should get an overview of as many offers as possible, compare them with each other and check the providers. The energy advice from the Lower Saxony Consumer Center explains what you should pay attention to:
Know your contract: If you want to determine current electricity tariffs, you should first be clear about your own consumption and the existing conditions: Important information can be found in the contract documents and on the last bill.Change tariff: Many electricity suppliers and municipal utilities offer more than just one tariff. If you are satisfied with your current provider, you can look for cheaper alternatives.Provider search: When looking for a cheap electricity tariff, comparison portals offer guidance. However, you should pay attention to the filter settings, as default settings can sometimes be disadvantageous. In addition, not all providers can be found on comparison portals. It is often helpful to ask friends and acquaintances about their experiences.Contract term: Consumers should only commit to their new electricity contract for around a year. In order not to receive the first price increase after just a few months, you should choose a tariff with a price guarantee.Regional provider: A criterion for choosing an energy supplier can be the regional connection with a local electricity provider as well as the direct accessibility of the provider via the company’s own customer center.
Check the provider and contract carefully
Be careful with discount providers, who can increasingly be found on comparison portals. “Customers should check the contract conditions carefully in advance – such as the term, price guarantees included and, if applicable, the calculation of bonuses,” says Julia Schröder, energy law expert at the Lower Saxony Consumer Center. Online reviews and comments about the provider and the risk of insolvency should also be taken into account when making a decision.
Comparison portals: Adjust search filters
Anyone who uses comparison portals should not rely on the default settings. Because search filters are usually not set with consumers in mind. They should therefore always be individually adapted, says Schröder. Tariffs with advance payment and package prices should generally be excluded. Bonuses should also be viewed critically, as they are usually only granted for a short period of time. If you still decide to do so, you should look for an immediate bonus that will be paid out in the first few months. Otherwise there is a risk of not receiving the promised discount at all or not receiving it in full.
Further information
Energy prices have fallen. If you want to change provider and search on comparison portals, there are a few things you should keep in mind. more
Contract: What applies to the term and notice period?
Basically, if you want to change provider, you have to pay attention to the contract term and the notice period. If the supplier increases prices, consumers have the opportunity to make use of their special right of termination and to get out of the contract early. The supplier must inform in advance in writing about the price increase and point out the special right of termination. If this is not the case, those affected should object.
Reducing energy consumption saves the most
If you want to save, you should not only look at the price, but also at your own energy consumption. This is how you can save electricity:
Time out for devices: According to the Federal Environment Agency, the electricity consumption in a household, which is caused exclusively by standby mode, is 360 kilowatt hours per year. At an electricity price of 30 cents per kilowatt hour, that’s 108 euros a year that is wasted.Optimal use: The handling of the devices also influences their power consumption. Freezers should be defrosted regularly and washing machines and dishwashers should only be used when fully loaded. If you don’t use a dryer and hang your laundry on the line, you save 200 to over 500 kilowatt hours of electricity every year.Computer: Smaller is better: Smartphones use less power than tablets, tablets less than notebooks and notebooks less than desktop PCs.WLAN: Many routers are real energy guzzlers and sometimes use more electricity than a refrigerator. Therefore choose an economical router and only activate the functions that are actually needed. Only turn on WiFi when it is in use.Detect power guzzlers: Also think about hidden energy robbers in the garden or hobby room, such as water pumps in ponds and pools, saunas, outdoor lighting, aquariums or terrariums.Outdated devices: Outdated devices can unnecessarily increase power consumption. For example, old heating pumps that run continuously in summer should be switched off outside of the heating season.
Further information
Energy costs and consumer prices are high. How can I save electricity at home? Which devices are power guzzlers? more
Consumer advice center offers energy advice
If you have any questions about saving energy, the consumer advice center’s energy advice service offers independent advice online, by telephone or in person.
Further information
Installing a new gas or oil heating system is still legally possible. But heating with fossil fuels is becoming more expensive. more
Electricity has become significantly cheaper again since the war-related peak. The costs are similar to autumn 2021. more
Current data shows what new customers are currently paying for gas and how the price is developing in historical comparison. more
Reduce the temperature, use thermostats correctly, avoid heat loss through insulation: There is a lot of savings potential when it comes to heating. more
Dubious providers lure people over the phone using a false name and offering cheap tariffs. How should those affected behave? more
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NDR Info | Feb 9, 2024 | 8:40 a.m