When thinking about how to cut electricity and gas spending, everyone thinks first of all about reducing consumption. At home, you can introduce a number of simple but effective measures. "By lowering the room temperature by one step you can save up to 6% of the heat. You can save heat by venting the radiators or by insulating the house and replacing the windows. You should buy households with lower consumption. For example, the fridge consumes up to one fifth of the energy from all appliances. Consider not only its consumption but also its size. Empty refrigerator consumes more electricity than full, because it has fewer food to keep it cool ", says some tips on reducing consumption Lukáš Zelený, head of the legal department of consumer organization dTest.
Another option is to lower the price for electricity and gas supplies. The payment consists of a regulated and unregulated part. This is regulated for each year by the Energy Regulatory Office, so it can not influence the energy supplier. The unregulated part then depends on market prices and suppliers' business strategies. "In a bid to get new customers, vendors sometimes offer bargains. Existing customers, however, often remain originally negotiated, which are higher than those offered to new customers, " explains Green. You can therefore contact your existing supplier for more favorable prices. Better conditions are often obtained under the so-called retention offer that the contractor sends you after the contract termination occurs.
Switching to a new supplier is another way to reduce the price. Whether the offer is cost effective can be verified by entering your existing product into one of the internet graders. But you should not be interested in the price. Check also for a variety of fees and contractual penalties, which may be hidden in the terms and conditions.
Consider whether to sign a fixed-term contract or for an indefinite period of time. For a fixed term contract, you can get a better price, but in return, the supplier will want you to subscribe to him for a certain period of time. "It is often not possible to terminate a fixed-term contract before the agreed time, or it is only possible to pay a gross contractual fine," Zeleny explains, adding: "It is not good to negotiate a fixed-term contract for more than one or two years. If there are better offers on the market, the current contract will prevent you from accepting them. "
Source: tz dTest.cz