Return of invoices from adjustment clause Since October, RAE has been making a discount, referring to its decision MINISTRY to extend the current mechanism until September 30 and in order to avoid the “tragedies” of the past, announces the preparation of guidelines for supplier companies. The goal is for the transition to the previous pricing regime to be as smooth as possible, with absolute consistency and transparency for consumers.

Changes in contracts

At the heart of the expected guidelines, according to RAE’s own update in the monthly retail electricity market report for April, is the possible modification of supply contracts and calls for suppliers to inform consumers detailing the conditions that must be met. amended (or new conditions) at least two months prior to the forthcoming amendment and in this case by July 31, 2023, in an individual letter and not on a consumption invoice.

bark products

However, the RAE is reportedly committed to exhausting its ability to protect consumers from misleading practices by scrutinizing monthly invoices. In the April report, he points out to consumers the pitfalls he has identified and gives helpful tips on how to avoid them. Consumers should be especially wary of various discount categories, as well as especially low-priced “bark” products that several vendors have recently launched to attract new customers, but it is not clear that they do not extend to their existing customers.

Discounts for persistence

The RAE is advising consumers to be especially careful with vendor rebates.

The FDA advises consumers to be especially careful about the permanence of discounts by studying the terms of each fare in detail, rather than simply sticking to attractive commercial policies that can act as “deceptive bait”.

He reports that he identified the intent of some vendors to offer early payment/permanence discounts, which however are not consistent. The percentage of cash into which they are transferred does not remain constant throughout the month, but instead changes and decreases after the end of usually the first two months of being in the product. Consumers should also pay attention to the non-cumulative effectiveness of the agreed rebate amount over the life of the contract in proportion to the number of days of consumption, a practice followed by some suppliers.

Consumers should pay attention to how the persistence discount is provided during their stay in the supply program and whether it is provided both in quantity and in time, as specified in the terms of the contract they signed. The FDA has also identified electricity products that provide a different permanent discount per month, which it encourages consumers to be aware of. It also identified cases where suppliers have applied an ex ante consistency discount to the original delivery price, which, however, by definition implies prompt payment by the consumer, which may or may not actually take place when the invoice is paid (in fact). .

Consumers should be aware that a reduction in the invoice offer price can only be temporary and may be revoked if the invoice is not paid on time. Many suppliers have created power supply products with very competitive prices, which, however, only apply to new and not existing customers. It was observed that the vast majority of consumers signed up with significantly more expensive plans.

Program changes

Consumers can ask their suppliers to transfer them to a program with a low offer price. The FDA encourages consumers to choose the lowest priced products and start changing the program within their supplier. This change will be made immediately and free of charge, since the program is variable. Finally, the RAE informs consumers that, under the Supply Code, suppliers are required to provide them with call center information and customer service contact details with every energy bill to contact them for complaints and inquiries.