Customers should not rush into fixed energy contracts, consumer organisation Test Aankoop said on Monday in a reaction to a new offer from supplier Luminus, the first player on the market to again offer such contracts.
Energy suppliers have not been offering fixed contracts for months, since they are too expensive in the current volatile markets. However, Luminus has now become the first to resume them. Its terms were made public on Monday.
An analysis of Luminus’ new rate cards by Test Aankoop shows that for electricity, fixed prices per kWh have increased by 13% to 19 %, compared to January 2022, according to the consumer organisation.
On the other hand, the fixed price for gas has remained much the same and even decreased, compared to January 2022.
Test Aankoop says it welcomes Luminus’ return to fixed contracts, but in the same breath it warns not to rush into such contracts either. “Given the current context with falling energy prices, we do not recommend rushing into Luminus’ fixed contracts,” it said.
It advised consumers to be patient and wait until the rate cards of other providers are also published.
The Flemish energy regulator Vreg also said earlier that a fixed contract could be expensive if prices were to fall sharply in the coming months.
