Electricity prices are falling, and this is excellent news for consumers. But behind these tempting announcements sometimes hide much less glamorous subtleties. Between misleading figures and marketing strategies, how to navigate?
Electricity: a well-orchestrated blur around prices
At the moment, energy suppliers are competing with each other with promotional offers, promising spectacular reductions: “-22%, -24%, cheaper than the neighbor!” “. But cheaper than what, exactly? The real trap lies in a deliberately obscure presentation of prices. The prices, once clear and transparent, are now broken up into a multitude of sections: electricity costs, transport costs, taxes, additional costs, etc. This clever division complicates the comparison and confuses the issue for consumers.
Contrary to appearances, buying electricity is not just about paying for electrons. What we pay for is a global service, including:
- The production of electricity itself.
- The transport of electrons to our homes.
- And above all, a significant portion of taxes often representing 40% of the bill.
This pricing complexity is similar to ordering fuel oil, where each element, the product, transport, insurance, is billed separately. Result: the displayed price is nothing more than an illusion.
How not to be fooled?
Some providers exploit this confusion to their advantage. Subscribing to a contract becomes a real headache: clear prices disappear in favor of a jungle of calculations to be carried out yourself. This opacity helps maintain the illusion of being “cheaper”. However, on closer inspection, there is no guarantee that these offers are truly competitive once all elements are taken into account.
To avoid falling into the trap, here are some practical tips:
- Ask for the exact price per kilowatt hour : this is the only reliable way to compare offers.
- Be vigilant about shock promotions : they often hide additional costs.
- Take the time to read the terms and conditions : they may contain hidden fees.
In short, be wary of speeches that are too good to be true. Faced with ever more cunning marketing tactics, your best weapon remains vigilance and methodical analysis of prices.
