Green power: How to change the provider
Electricity providers change: more rights for consumers
© Linleo / Fotolia.comAgain and again there were difficulties in the past when changing the electricity provider: delays, missing or incorrect billing. This has unsettled many consumers and prevented them from changing the electricity supplier. Thanks to a new regulation by the Federal Government (since April 2012) it should now be over.
The most important changes:
- The change should go much faster. Three weeks after a provider has registered his new customer with the network operator, everything must be completed.
- If companies do not meet the deadline, they must pay the consumer damages.
- Consumer complaints must be answered by the company within four weeks.
- If the disputes are not resolved, consumers may contact a conciliation body which will provide assistance free of charge: Arbitration Body Energy e.V., Tel. 030/27 57 240-0, info@schlichtungsstelle-energie.de
Who really offers "green" electricity?
The numbers sound considerable: Three million households already receive green electricity. 730 providers have "green" electricity on offer with a total of 1700 different tariffs - quite confusing. Many offers are regionally limited and not comparable. In a recent test (2/2012), Stiftung Warentest has therefore selected and examined 19 nationwide green electricity tariffs. The results: All providers actually deliver 100 percent green electricity. But only 13 of 19 offerings guarantee an "extension" - that, for example, new wind power plants are built and not only the existing facilities are used.
12 out of 19 providers show strong environmental commitment
In order to get good grades in the test, but the providers had to do even more: "Lichtblick" installs, for example, in private homes mini combined heat and power plants, which provide both heat and electricity. "Greenpeace Energy" offers on-site advice on heating modernization and a car sharing project with electric cars. And at the "Elektrizitätswerke Schönau" customers can become members of a cooperative. In the end, the commodity testers awarded 12 of the 19 tariffs the verdict "very strong" or "strong environmental commitment."
Only four green electricity providers are really independent
There is hardly any more energy supplier in Germany who does not offer an ecological tariff. But in fact there are only four supra-regional providers that are in no way intertwined with the major energy suppliers: Naturstrom, Lichtblick, Elektrizitätswerke Schönau and Greenpeace Energy. So if you disagree with the policy of the big corporations (eg that they demand compensation for the nuclear phase-out or participate in the construction of new nuclear power plants abroad or continue to massively rely on climate-damaging energy from coal), a change to an independent provider can be a political signal put.
There is always more Stadtwerkewhich offer regionally limited green power (for example Hamburg Energie). Find out on the homepage, whether they are really independent or are involved in one of the big companies and where the electricity comes from.
How satisfied are the customers?
Stiftung Warentest stated earlier: The four independent providers also perform best when it comes to advising new customers and providing services. Almost 100 percent of customers are "satisfied" or "very satisfied".
Energiewende: Where does our electricity come from?
The energy revolution is progressing: 21 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources such as water, wind, sun and biomass - a value that many critics still considered utopian even recently. And it's more than what we get by hard coal (19 percent), nuclear energy (18 percent) and natural gas (14 percent). Only brown coal is still ahead of renewable energies at 25 percent.
No one has to fear a power gap despite leaving the nuclear power plant. The German Advisory Council on the Environment came to a conclusion in 2011 in an appraisal for the Federal Government: Without any loss of comfort, by the year 2050 Germany will be able to cover its entire energy consumption from renewable sources, which is "realistic and affordable."
As a rumor has turned out that because of the energy transition already massive electricity from abroad had to be purchased, otherwise the supply would have collapsed. This obviously had business reasons, because at the same time several German gas-fired power plants were underutilized.
After Fukushima: No to nuclear power
In the first weeks after the reactor disaster, the demand for green electricity was huge. Meanwhile, the interest has naturally faded again a bit. But overall, the four independent green electricity providers have gained nearly one million new customers since March 2011. At the top is Lichtblick with now 530 000 customers.
How can you compare electricity prices?
Electricity prices depend on many factors: the region in which one lives, the size of the household and the annual consumption. The first thing you should see on the last utility bill is your annual consumption. In general, anyone who has never changed tariffs can almost always save, because the original basic service is usually the most expensive. Therefore, it is quite possible that you do not only do something for the environment with green electricity, but also something for your wallet.
Stiftung Warentest has calculated: A family with an annual consumption of 4,000 kilowatt hours paid by the local provider in the primary care on average 1046 euros, for a Ökotarif with seal of quality only 1,010 euros. For comparison, it's best to use one Tariff calculator on the Internet, e.g. www.verivox.de or www.toptarif.de. If you want to choose a non-affiliate provider in any case, takes the portal www.atomausstieg-selber-machen.de. There, the prospective customer is guided step by step to the new application.
And do not worry: As soon as you have placed the order with a new supplier, he takes care of everything. The old provider does not turn off the power - never sat someone because of a change in the dark.
Which labels are there for green electricity?
Many consumers assume that there are clear rules about what green electricity actually is. In fact, the term is not protected by law. Orientation is provided by quality seals, with which some offers are awarded:
OK Power Seal: The consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia, the eco-institute and the environmental organization WWF are behind this label, more than 50 tariffs have the certificate. One third of the electricity must come from installations less than six years old and one third from installations less than twelve years old. Thus, incentives for new construction should be created.
Green Stream Gold: It is awarded by seven environmental organizations (including BUND, Nabu), offers from 100 energy providers - have been awarded so far, including many small, regional providers. The criteria are particularly strict: the electricity must come from renewable sources to 100 percent, for every kilowatt hour money flows into a funding pot for eco-projects.
TÜV seal: The test criteria are not uniform, the TÜV organizations award different seals. This makes comparison difficult and confusing for customers.
RECS Seal ("Renewable Energy Certificate System"): The certificate is tradable. Even a company that only produces nuclear or coal power can buy it and then offer "green electricity".
Electricity: What should be considered in the contract?
When you request new power, you should pay attention to the following in the contract:
- short term, a maximum of one year to be able to react flexibly to changes - short notice period (for example four weeks) - no prepayment - should the company go bankrupt, otherwise you will not see your money again - no extra fee for interim billing
Compare the rates without the bonus that many suppliers offer to attract new customers. And deactivate the default tick on the internet computers.
