The bonus when switching providers was once. If there is a price increase, you should always check whether the provider is not competitive after all. But in some cases, the switch is still worth it. We show you how it works.
Heating will be expensive for Germans this year, that much is certain. Electricity has also become more expensive. Therefore, even the most loyal customers could get the idea to look for a new, cheaper supplier. That’s how it works:
1st step: Check your own provider
“The energy market has completely turned inside out,” says Sylvia Scheibenberger from the consumer advice center in Baden-Württemberg in Ulm. The recommendation that regularly changing providers saves money no longer applies. In the event of a price increase, one should always check whether the provider is not competitive after all, said Scheibenberger. She advises comparing the prices of different providers on the Internet using comparison portals such as Check24 and Verivox.
The most important thing: the energy price per kilowatt hour. “If the utility announces that it is increasing the prices, then it has to list the old and the new price in a table,” says Scheibenberger. In this way, consumers could already see how prices are changing. They could then compare the new working price with the costs of other providers using a comparison portal on the Internet.
The second key figure is the basic price that is due for the connection. It can be interesting for those who already save a lot of energy. “If I use little energy, a high basic price is rather disadvantageous,” says Scheibenberger.
2nd step: check the basic supply tariff
“If you want to conclude a new supply contract, the prices for basic electricity and gas supply are currently lower than the prices for special contracts,” says Rico Dulinski from the Brandenburg consumer center in Potsdam.
But not every basic supplier is represented with its basic tariff in common comparison portals. “To be on the safe side, you can simply enter the keyword ‘basic provider’ and the postal code in the search engine,” says Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, editor-in-chief of the non-profit consumer portal Finanztip in Berlin. The providers would have to publish data sheets with their prices on their website. The basic service tariff is often called “basis” or “comfort”.
3rd step: Select term
The term of the contract should be made dependent on the offer. If the price of a long-term contract with a fixed price is significantly higher than offers with a shorter term, Dulinski advises short contracts.
However, if customers want to secure price security for a certain period of time and the price offered is only slightly above the current price of the basic service, “there is nothing to be said against a contract with a long commitment and corresponding price fixing,” says the consumer advocate.
4th step: Cancel the old provider
“A basic service contract can be terminated at any time with a notice period of 14 days,” says Dulinski. If you have a special contract, you can change at the end of the term. Then it is possible, for example via comparison portals, to instruct the new provider to switch.
“But if you want to make use of the special right of termination – for example in the event of a price increase – you can only do it yourself,” says Scheibenberger. She recommends a registered letter to the provider.
Step 5: How to solve conflicts
In principle, switching to basic care is possible without any problems, explains Rico Dulinski. “But we are also aware of cases in which customers were initially supplied as part of the expensive replacement supply.” Therefore, customers should urge the energy supplier to make the appropriate classification. In the event of a dispute, the energy arbitration board in Berlin can be a good point of contact.