In recent weeks, several media outlets have written about people who are furious about high electricity bills with variable agreements. The Consumer Council also notices that it is boiling. They have received three times as many inquiries about electricity as usual per week. – It has been quite red-hot on the telephone service, says senior adviser at the Consumer Council, Thomas Iversen. SAY NO: – We discourage people from buying electricity via door sales or telephone sales. Rarely are the best electricity contracts sold directly to you, says senior advisor at the Consumer Council, Thomas Iversen. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – Switch as soon as possible The Consumer Council went out on Thursday and asked the electricity companies to cut the controversial variable agreements. If not, the authorities should introduce a ban, they believe. But if you have a variable agreement on electricity, the Consumer Council’s advice is crystal clear: Change the agreement as soon as possible. – We are very clear that if you have a variable agreement, you should get out of it as soon as possible and choose a regular spot price agreement, says Iversen. The reason is simply that you pay more for electricity than you should, he explains. Check this before new contract These are seven things the Consumer Council believes you should think about when choosing a new contract: Do not buy electricity via telephone sales or at the door Rarely are the best electricity contracts sold directly to you, and you are almost guaranteed to end up with a bad one deal. Select spot price A spot price agreement consists of the power price and the company’s mark-up. The price fluctuates according to the market. There are almost no fixed price agreements left in the southern power regions. Then there will be a spot price for those who are going out on the market. Check strömpris.no The Consumer Council’s own service where they have collected all the agreements and it is easy to compare. The switch itself is done in a few minutes. At bytt.no you can test your electricity contract. A robot analyzes the agreement against other electricity agreements in the market. A long guarantee secures the price A long price guarantee means that the company will not change either the mark-up or fixed terms during the period the guarantee lasts. Several companies offer from one to three years. Not bound Even if you choose an agreement with a price guarantee, you are not bound. If you want to change company or fixed price agreement, you are free to do so. Trying to win you back When you have changed electricity contracts, it often happens that your original electricity company calls to win you back as a customer. Then it is important to remember: Do not enter into agreements via telephone sales. Control your consumption The cheapest electricity is the electricity you don’t use. What kind of electricity contract do you have? Spot price Variable price Fixed price Don’t know Show result – Customers are distraught and cursed The Homeowners’ Association has also received a record number of inquiries about variable electricity agreements recently. – The customers are distraught and cursed, and feel taken advantage of and deceived when they have trusted the advice and promises they have received from the electricity company, says Linda Ørstavik Öberg, energy policy adviser at Huseierne. The notices show that the electricity industry still has a way to go in being honest with its customers, she points out. MANY REACT: – Recently, we have received a record number of inquiries about variable power agreements, says energy policy adviser in the Home Owners’ National Association, Linda Ørstavik Öberg. – First of all, the sale of electricity on the door, in the shop and over the phone should be banned, says Öberg. The Norwegian authorities should also take this seriously and ensure stricter regulation of the electricity market than today, she believes. – But this is also a strong reminder for electricity customers of how important it is to follow their own electricity invoice and agreement, says Öberg. Criticized for poor information The Consumer Council feels that people find it difficult to find out what to choose, but also what agreements they have. The power companies have long been criticized for poor information and conditions in the agreements, says Iversen. – We follow very closely and work closely with the Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority on the electricity market. The goal is for it to be safe and easy to be an electricity customer in Norway, says Iversen. I think many will end the agreement Energi Norge does not think a ban is necessary. Many suppliers themselves will eventually end the agreement, the interest and employer organization believes. – Variable agreements have had a negative impact this autumn because the price has fallen sharply. The new rules on 30-day notice will make it more challenging. We believe that many suppliers will eventually stop using this product, says Ulf Møller, business policy adviser at Energi Norge. END WITH: When the price went up last autumn, there were many people who benefited from variable agreements on electricity. Now business policy advisor at Energi Norge, Ulf Møller, believes that many suppliers will end the agreement. Photo: Johan B. Sættem Energy Norway also wants to ban the sale of electricity at the door or over the phone. They will work on this through the Trygg strømhandel.no certification scheme, which will ensure good quality in the work with the sale of electricity. They take the criticism of bad information seriously. Therefore, they want sales from the call center to be taped in order to be able to document afterwards that the salesperson gave the customer all the necessary information. Sales in stores also have weaknesses, according to Energi Norge. – It is demanding that everyone who works there has the necessary training to understand the agreements and sell them in a good way, says Møller.
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You should avoid this when you change your power agreement – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
