“For example, TotalEnergies launched a second fixed product, Pixel Fixed, a pricing plan with digital services only. Previously, Luminus launched a new two-year fixed product: MaxxFix. In total, you now have the choice between 10 different suppliers in Flanders, 6 in Wallonia and 3 in Brussels if you want a fixed contract. This is much more than during the first half of 2023, when only the largest suppliers offered fixed prices.“
So what to do with your energy contract? “Today, a fixed contract costs around €200 more on an annual basis compared to last Marchindicates Test-Achats, which also explains that the price difference is diminishing between fixed and variable contracts, and that is good news. “While a family with average consumption of electricity and gas had to pay around 350 euros more per year in recent months to benefit from the security of a fixed rate, this amount fell below 300 euros in November .“
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What to choose if you sign a new energy contract? Our comparison
If you have to sign a new contract, however, a variable formula remains, for the moment, the best option. We therefore compared the prices of the different contracts to get a clear picture. If we base ourselves on the average consumption of a Belgian household, i.e. 5,000 kWh/year for electricity and 17,000 kWh/year for gas, we arrive at a deposit which oscillates between 260€/month at TotalEnergies and 324 €/month at Luminus for a fixed contract. We also find offers for €278 at Eneco or €265 at Mega.
Prices that apply to a household in Walloon Brabant, because we know that prices can vary from one region to another. For the same consumption in the Brussels Region, we found a fixed offer of €261 at TotalEnergies and €273 at Engie. Both providers also offer other fixed contracts which rise to almost €300/month. A fixed contract is therefore not the other, and it is a question of finding out about the selected product and the options it contains.
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But despite the increase in prices, it would be more interesting to go through a variable contract, despite this context of price increases on the markets. This is in any case true if you have to sign a new contract in the coming days. If you still have a contract signed a few months ago and valid for a few more months, don’t change anything.
At Luminus – which, as a reminder, offers a fixed contract at €324/month – we find a variable offer at €237/month for identical consumption. The difference is less marked at Eneco, since we go from a fixed at €278 to a variable at €250/month. The cheapest rate we found is at TotalEnergies (€228/month).
More than ever, it is time to compare prices. We also remind you that a variable rate is likely to increase (or decrease) quickly, unlike a fixed contract which is valid for at least one year. If you change your contract, also pay attention to welcome offers or reductions which only remain valid if you complete your contract and which could be claimed from you.
