IMPROVED COMPARABILITY OF ENERGY OFFERS
Energy markets should offer high quality services at competitive prices to customers allowing them to make
meaningful choices.
EU legislation requires al companies, including energy suppliers, to provide customers with certain
information about their offers in a clear and comprehensible manner. Despite this, and although stricter
regulatory requirements are in place in many Member States, some consumers face difficulties in comparing
offers and choosing the right one for them.
BEUC, EURELECTRIC and EUROGAS consider that energy suppliers, acting competitively, can further support
the comparability of energy offers and help customers navigate the market more easily. The three
associations recommend that - when presenting a product - the fol owing key information is provided to
customers by suppliers in one place1 in a short, easily understandable, prominent and accessible manner:
Product name and main features including, where relevant, information on environmental impact,
clear description of promotions (e.g. temporary discounts) and additional services (e.g. maintenance,
insurance, etc.)
Total Price2 (fixed/variable) - which includes all cost components -
and conditions for price changes
Contract duration, notice period (renewal/withdrawal - where relevant) and
conditions for
termination, including, where relevant,
fees and penalties
Payment frequency and method options (e.g. cash/ cheque/ direct debit/ standing order/ pre-
payment)
Supplier’s contact details (e.g. customer service’s address, telephone number and/or email, including,
where relevant, identification of any intermediary)
Provision of this information by suppliers and price comparison websites helps customers easily and quickly to
understand the key elements of energy offers available in the market and select the one(s) that best suit their
needs, contributing to the objective of improved comparability. The use of common terminology should be
agreed at national level.
Suppliers should make clear that such information represents only the main elements of their product(s).
Customers should continue to receive all pre-contractual information on a durable medium - as per their
obligation under the Consumer Rights Directive3 - which they should careful y read before signing any
contract. The key elements communicated to a customer in the offer phase have to be the same in the final
offer and in the contract.
With such an approach, suppliers wil have the possibility to provide the information in a way that empowers
customers while stil being able to innovate and keeping the flexibility necessary to match changing needs.
BEUC, EURELECTRIC and EUROGAS wil conduct a review of suppliers’ approach to meeting this agreement in
early 2017 and discuss the outcome with European Energy Regulators CEER and the European Commission.
1 E.g. on a webpage and in promotional material made available to final customers.
2 For detailed price offer, customers wil be requested to provide their consumption data
3 Directive 2011/83/EU