Electricity and gas prices have only known the way up in recent months. But despite price increases, switching providers does not always make sense. When is a change worthwhile?
Should you switch to primary care?
According to the Federal Statistical Office, energy price inflation will be 24.4 percent in December; in September 2022 it was even 43.9 percent. It is therefore not surprising if the energy provider is now increasing the prices, but you should not prematurely terminate your contract, writes the public service magazine Brisant. In most areas, switching providers is no longer worthwhile anyway, since the savings are too small. In such a case, it may be worth considering the local basic supplier. Since you can terminate the contracts here with a notice period of two weeks, this is also a good transitional option if no cheaper electricity provider can be found.
Be careful with comparison sites
The comparison portal Check24 advertises that you can save up to 250 euros in the first year when changing providers. A cheaper basic price than in the basic service, a cheaper working price and the switching bonus should be reasons for making a change of provider. But Brisant warns against such offers from various comparison portals, because the regional basic suppliers are often not listed here and the prices are therefore not always up to date. Comparison portals are then helpful to check an existing offer. If the basic supplier is below the current prices of the other providers, then a change can be worthwhile here. But what to do if no cheaper basic supplier can be found?
Short contract period and price guarantee
If no cheap basic supplier can be found, then the only option left is a conventional energy provider. But don’t accept the first offer that comes your way. You should definitely pay attention to the contract period so as not to be tied to one provider for too long if there are price increases again. Above all, contract terms of only one year are particularly worthwhile, since you can make new comparisons in a timely manner and benefit from new customer bonuses and other bonuses from other providers.
Nevertheless, only a contract term of one to two years is recommended, even if there is a corresponding price guarantee, according to Brisant. So you are protected against arbitrary increases on the part of the provider. However, the price guarantee cannot do anything against the increase in network charges, taxes, levies or surcharges, since these are regulated price components that are not decided on the market.
Editorial office finanzen.net