With a dynamic energy contract you can save by consuming energy at the most favorable time of the day. Although you pay fluctuating market prices with several providers of dynamic contracts, the costs differ. Which one should you choose?
272.000 huishoudens hadden in februari een dynamisch energiecontract met prijzen die gedurende de dag schommelen. Deze consumenten kunnen er een sport van maken om op de gunstigste momenten hun energie te verbruiken. Bij welke leverancier ze zitten, speelt ook mee bij het besparen.
Inmiddels zijn er tientallen aanbieders van dynamische energie. Voorbeelden daarvan zijn ANWB, Frank Energie, Tibber en Zonneplan. Van de grotere en bekende energieleveranciers bieden alleen Eneco en Budget Energie nu dynamische contracten aan. Hoewel elke leverancier met marktprijzen rekent, ben je toch bij de ene leverancier duurder uit dan bij de andere.
Dynamische prijzen
Bij een dynamisch contract hoor je dagelijks wat de stroomprijzen per uur zijn voor de komende dag. Net als de gasprijs voor de hele dag. Als er op de markt op een bepaald moment veel aanbod of weinig vraag naar stroom is, zal de prijs laag zijn. Dat is een goed moment om de wasmachine aan te zetten of de elektrische auto op te laden.
Prices differ due to additional costs
This is partly because the standing charge (the fixed costs) differs per supplier. This is also the case with other energy contracts, but with dynamic energy it has a slightly greater impact.
In addition, suppliers charge a surcharge on top of market prices. The amount of that surcharge also varies. For example, with one supplier you pay a surcharge of 2 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed, while with the other you pay 2.5 cents.
Sometimes the surcharge on the electricity price is higher with a supplier with low fixed costs. This may mean that supplier A is cheaper with low energy consumption, but supplier B is cheaper with higher consumption.
Differences seem bigger than they are
Calculating where it will cost you the cheapest is not child’s play if you take a tour of the sites of dynamic energy providers. “Differences between suppliers seem greater than they actually are when you look at their annual cost estimates,” says Joris Kerkhof of Independer.
These estimates are based on current energy prices. But it varies how often suppliers update them. One bases its estimates on yesterday’s market prices, while the other bases its estimates on last week’s prices.
These are just estimates and ultimately you will have to deal with fluctuating prices from all suppliers. But it may be that one way of estimating gives a distorted picture. Only the amount of the fixed costs and the mark-up on market prices determine the difference.
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Comparison sites are taking hold of dynamic contracts
Large comparison sites had previously not ventured into dynamic energy contracts. This made the search for the most affordable dynamic contract extra difficult. But today Independer starts by comparing seven dynamic contracts. Gaslicht.com will follow later this month. Competitor Pricewise is still investigating a way to get started.
Independer will ensure that an estimate of the monthly or annual costs is made in the same way for all dynamic contracts shown. “Then you can better see where you can best go based on the lowest standing charge and the lowest price surcharge,” says Kerkhof.
Dynamic contract is not for everyone
The two comparators do not mix the range of dynamic contracts with variable or fixed energy contracts. “You must consciously choose in advance that you want to see dynamic contracts,” says the Independer expert.
Gaslicht founder Ben Woldring also wants to proceed cautiously. “Because a dynamic contract is actually almost a financial product that requires a package leaflet,” he says.
“Prices can drop sharply, but can also suddenly skyrocket. As a customer, you have to take that into account. Dynamic energy is therefore not suitable for everyone. Even with variable energy contracts, you often know where you stand for three months when you conclude. That is not the case with dynamic energy.”
