the essential
The Que Choisir association has joined forces with the energy supplier Alterna to offer, via the subsidiary SAS Que Choisir, a group contract to consumers. Subscribers could make “between 17 and 22%” savings on their bill.
A lower gas bill for the next two years. While energy prices remain very high as winter approaches, the Que Choisir association is offering, via its subsidiary SAS Que Choisir, a bundled offer valid until December 31, 2024. With the key to customers, the promise of making “between 17 and 22% savings on gas consumption”. How does it work? Explanations.
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What savings can customers make?
On its site, Que Choisir promises “between 17 and 22%” savings on the gas bill. A figure which depends on the use of gas in the home (cooking, hot water, heating, etc.). “To give an overview of the savings achievable, we based our calculations on a household that consumes 20,000 kWh per year. In this case, a household can expect around 250 euros in savings compared to the best offer on the market,” says Cédric Musso with La Dépêche du Midi.
Concretely, the offer selected by the consumer association offers a price per kiloWatt hour (kWh) at €0.086. Well below, therefore, the average price of gas for heating (0.1093€ including tax per kWh Effy), and the 0.1383€ including tax per kWh on average for hot water and cooking use. On the other hand, although the gas price fell by 0.95% in November, it could start to rise again, underlines Cédric Musso, citing the Energy Regulatory Commission,
To estimate the savings achievable based on your current supplier and consumption, Que Choisir has set up a simulation tool on the website quechoisirensemble.fr.
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How long does the commitment last when subscribing to the contract?
Without action on the part of the consumer, an energy contract automatically renews on the anniversary date of the contract. However, individual customers can cancel at any time and free of chargerecalls the Ministry of the Economy. On the other hand, the winning supplier of the call for tenders, Alterna Énergie, signed a commitment: it must maintain its fixed prices for two years. “And if there was a collapse in gas prices over the next 24 months,” adds Cédric Musso, “the supplier will have to provide subscribers with a new attractive offer.”
Who can benefit from the group purchase offer offered by Que Choisir?
“The contract we are proposing is aimed at all gas subscribers served by GRDF“, explains the director of political action at Que Choisir. In France, around 11 million households are connected to the national distributor's network.
Are group energy purchasing offers reliable?
A group purchase of energy consists of bringing together numerous consumers in order to negotiate an energy purchase for electricity and natural gas, fuel oil, etc. With one objective: get lower prices and sometimes also better service or additional services. For several years, consumer associations and comparators have regularly offered this service, underlines the Energy Mediator. They then serve as “moral guarantor” between the supplier and the consumer.
However, as with any contract signing, a minimum of vigilance is required. Read the pricing conditions carefully and do not hesitate to compare the offers.
