A bad calculation. “In the current context of a significant increase in the price of gas, having a fixed price offer signed before the start of the energy crisis, i.e. mid-September, is a great opportunity… which is probably expensive for suppliers”, observes the CLCV (Consumption, housing, living environment) in a press release this Friday.
Thus some suppliers want to “encourage their customers to terminate their contract to subscribe to this same type of offer with a competitor” as does Cdiscount Energie, also under the GreenYellow brand, “which soon wishes to exit the gas market and therefore put a end of their contracts,” she continues.
A difference which “can be of the order of 30 to 50%”
However, the energy supplier “must respect its contract” and “serve the consumer at the fixed price” until the end of it, says the CLCV. And if he decides to leave the gas market, he must pay his customers compensation corresponding to “the difference between the price of the fixed offer subscribed to and the equivalent offer that the consumer can find from another supplier”, a difference which “can be around 30 to 50%” today.
“This tariff surcharge is to be multiplied by the estimated consumption which remains to be run by the end of the contract”: over one year, “the amount of the damage will frequently be several hundred euros”. In conclusion, the CLCV advises consumers once morest accepting proposals such as that of Cdiscount Energie, “suggesting to abandon their fixed price contract in exchange for a very meager remuneration, a few tens of euros” and puts the company ” in default of respecting its commitments”.
The consumers concerned can contact the consumer defense association by completing the form “Energy – Call for witnesses” on its website. Inflation in France climbed in January to 2.9% year on year, INSEE reported on Friday, driven by soaring energy prices: if electricity prices rose 3.9%, that of gas jumped at the same rate as the previous month, i.e. +50.9%.
