The benchmark selling price of natural gas increased by 6.6% on Sunday, November 1, bringing its total increase to 42.3% since the start of the year. This sharp increase is explained by the war in the Middle East.
Outside of periods of crisis, these fixed price offers often turn out to be slightly more expensive, which encourages some subscribers to opt for another option. In the past, however, fixed-rate offers from EDF and TotalEnergies have proven to be less expensive than their indexed offers.
Faced with this situation, subscribers with a fixed rate, including those who have chosen a contract lasting two or three years, can change it at any time. Fixed price offers guarantee a fixed price on gas throughout the period of commitment with the supplier.
However, there are two types of fixed price offers: those where the rate is guaranteed for the entire duration of the contract, and those where certain components, such as the delivery rate, can modify the total cost. In all cases, changes in taxation can also cause prices to vary.
There are also offers whose prices are not indexed to public references or are left to the discretion of the supplier. These formulas are the subject of a cautionary recommendation from the national energy mediator, who advises against them.
This reference tariff, established by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), directly influences the prices offered by suppliers to consumers.
At the end of their contract, subscribers can subscribe to a new fixed rate, but this is calculated on the new prices in force and not on those offered when signing the first contract.