After 60 years of monopoly, EDF is no longer the only electricity supplier on the French market. Other brands have built a solid reputation in recent years. Between the low-cost supplier, the most reliable and the greenest, the regulated tariff, the fixed prices and the indexed prices, the choice quickly becomes a headache. Discover our guide to the best electricity suppliers of the moment.
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Our selection
"EDF offers the best quality/price ratio on the market. This historical actor has been able to adapt to the changes in the habits of the…"
"Newcomer on the French energy market, this electricity supplier applies low rates. On average, it is 11% cheaper than EDF's Tarif Bleu."
"Engie is the historical gas supplier in the UK. But apart from its regulated gas rates, it also markets a wide range of fixed-price electricity…"
"If you are looking for the best CO2-neutral electricity offer, you should turn to Vattenfall. This supplier offers 100% green electricity at very competitive prices."
EDF offers the best quality/price ratio on the market. This historical actor has been able to adapt to the changes in the habits of the French.
See the offersEDF divides its electricity offers in two: the Blue Tariff and the market rates. The Blue Tariff includes offers based on the price set by the State. There is a Base Option for those who consume most of their electricity outside off-peak hours. There is also an Off-Peak Option for users of hot water tanks and those who consume a lot of electricity during off-peak hours. Finally, there is the Tempo Option with a price of the kWh that changes according to the day and the hour, practical if you subscribe to a 9 kVA subscription.
The market offers proposed by EDF meet different needs and different consumption habits. Moreover, the prices are very flexible. We find in particular the Digiwatt offer for a completely online management of your contract, or the Green Electricity offer with prices that can be adjusted according to your consumption habits. Finally, customers can use the EDF & MOI app to access their bills online and define the most suitable payment methods.
Newcomer on the French energy market, this electricity supplier applies low rates. On average, it is 11% cheaper than EDF's Tarif Bleu.
See the offersOHM Energie proposes 4 offers to meet the different needs of individuals . First, there is the Classic offer which guarantees a reduction of 11% on the price of the KWh all year long. Green electricity is included in this offer. Secondly, OHM Energie offers the Petite Conso offer for small apartments and studios with low electricity consumption. You will benefit from a 25% discount on the subscription price compared to the Classic offer.
The two additional offers meet very specific needs. The first, the Beaux Jours offer, is intended for second homes and offers a 30% reduction on the kWh between April and October. The second, the Evening & WE offer, will be advantageous if you mainly consume electricity during off-peak hours and on weekends. It should be noted that these two additional offers are only compatible with Linky meters deployed by Enedis.
Engie is the historical gas supplier in the UK. But apart from its regulated gas rates, it also markets a wide range of fixed-price electricity offers.
See the offersWe know Engie as the main French supplier of natural gas. But it is also the second largest electricity supplier in the UK, behind EDF, ahead of Total Energies. Engie's main asset is the wide range of offers it proposes, especially for electricity. Moreover, all these electricity offers are green!
Engie offers no less than 6 electricity offers: Elec Garantie 1, 2 and 3 years; Elec Weekend 2 years; Elec Ajust 2 and 3 years; Elec Référence 2 or 3 years; Elec Prix Fixe 1 year and Elec Car 3 years. The price of all these offers varies according to the duration of the subscription and remains fixed for the entire duration of the subscription (1, 2 or 3 years). All these offers are available by phone, except for the offers Elec Référence 2 years and Elec Car 3 years which you can also subscribe to online.
If you are looking for the best CO2-neutral electricity offer, you should turn to Vattenfall. This supplier offers 100% green electricity at very competitive prices.
See the offersVattenfall promises to save you up to 10% on the price per kWh compared to EDF's Tarif Bleu. The tariff schedule of this Swedish electricity supplier is summarized in two offers: a basic tariff option and a peak and off-peak tariff option. The tariff varies according to the power subscribed, from 3 kVA to 36 kVA, but will always be cheaper than the basic tariff set by the French government.
Among other advantages, you will benefit from 100% carbon-neutral electricity. The supplier also offers a contract with no time commitment and no fees to pay. You also benefit from the experience of a company with more than a century of experience in energy supply across Europe.
Any specific needs?
The best electricity provider in 2021
The best entry-level electricity provider
The best high-end electricity provider
The best green electricity provider
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| THE BEST | LESS EXPENSIVE | GREEN ELECTRICITY | ||
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
EDF
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OHM Energy
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Engie
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Vattenfall
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EDF offers the best quality/price ratio on the market. This historical actor has been able to adapt to the changes in the habits of the French.
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Newcomer on the French energy market, this electricity supplier applies low rates. On average, it is 11% cheaper than EDF's Tarif Bleu.
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Engie is the historical gas supplier in the UK. But apart from its regulated gas rates, it also markets a wide range of fixed-price electricity offers.
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If you are looking for the best CO2-neutral electricity offer, you should turn to Vattenfall. This supplier offers 100% green electricity at very competitive prices.
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Average price per kWh (6 kVA meter)
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0.1558 €
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0.1418 €
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0.1628 €
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0.1441 €
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Average price per kWh peak/off-peak (6 kVA meter)
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0.1821 € / 0.1360 €
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0.1652 € / 0.1242 €
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0.1906 € / 0.1418 €
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0.1677 € / 0.1263 €
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Subscription (6 kVA meter)
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11.47 €
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16.03 €
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11.47 €
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14.52 €
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Power rating range
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6 to 36 kVA
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6 to 18 kVA
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3 to 36 kVA
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3 to 36 kVA
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Green electricity
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The contract mentions all the clauses on the tariff, which is bound to increase constantly depending on a few factors for some offers. A contract with a regulated tariff does not work in the same way as one with an indexed price. The first is influenced by the State, while the other is based on the regulated tariff. There are also suppliers who offer a fixed price for a predetermined period of time. This can be for 1 to more than 3 years. In this case we speak of a subscription. The variable tariffs are based on the consumption in kWh. Other possibilities are to be expected as it is the case of market offers that depend on the trend of supply and demand, but also on the period of the year.The time slot is another factor having the possibility to modify the tariff throughout the subscription. Thus, prices are different during peak and off-peak hours (HP and HC).
Customer service is a decision-making element when choosing an electricity supplier. What services can be offered in this case? That is the question you need to ask yourself. A more flexible payment method is always more convenient than another. The means of payment are of course included in this point. Also check the contact method used. This can be a phone call, a letter or an internet service. The latter is the most convenient. However, the best providers combine all means to satisfy their customers. Choose providers that offer free advice over the phone. Be careful though, because not all companies have the same quality of service. Responsiveness is your main criterion at this stage. Peak calls are not a problem with the best. That's why online services are so popular. They are most often accompanied by a mobile app that allows you to access the offer at any time without having to go anywhere.
Your needs are a criterion on their own. Choose your provider based on the type of your home. Is it an apartment or a house? This information is crucial when comparing. Of course, it is accompanied by other technical data, including the area and number of rooms to be supplied in the dwelling. To do this, you need to know which appliances consume the most power in your home and for what purpose the electricity is used:
The most crucial question is related to your consumption. It is obvious that it is lower if you are less present. This is where the concept of Peak/Off-peak hours comes into play, where the rate is more interesting during off-peak hours, which last 8 hours. This compares with the Basic option which does not take into account this time slot. The price is evaluated per kWh with the Basic option. The subscription price is therefore lower.
In general, the lower the price per kWh, the more exorbitant the subscription rate is likely to be.
The
reductions go hand in hand with the offers with indexed prices. Moreover, they always have a cheaper subscription price. Suppliers usually offer discounts when you renew the contract. You can save up to 15% in this case. There are brands that set up a sponsorship system. A new sponsored customer benefits from some privileges such as a reduction of the subscription fee or even the subscription price. This is also valid for the sponsor, who is already a subscriber with the provider in question. You will earn a few dozen or twenty euros thanks to these good plans. Finally, there are many promotions on the market. They are of course temporary, more precisely valid for a few months or days only, and apply to one bill or more depending on the offer.
Opt for the least complex and fastest process when subscribing. This is done by phone or via an online form. It is at this moment that you fix the date and the course of the commissioning. Depending on the supplier, the commissioning can be started before all the procedures have been completed, especially the sending of the required documents. However, it is also possible that the supplier asks for an advance payment before the completion of all the installations. This speed avoids any risk of being cut off while waiting for the file to be validated.
A new electrical installation is essential when you move. This is the opportunity to change supplier. However, you can also do this at any time. Normally, electricity supply offers are not binding in themselves.
You can break the contract as soon as there is something that does not suit you or when you find a more advantageous offer either in terms of price or quality of service. Especially since the quality of the electricity itself never changes, regardless of the supplier.
Once you have chosen a supplier, you can access the offer directly from their website. You don't even have to cancel the old contract yourself, as the new supplier does this for you. At this point, a few documents are required, including the meter reading, the last invoice and the bank statement.
The 100% online offers are subscribed in just a few minutes. As soon as everything is in place on the supplier's side, all that remains is to settle the bill for the termination of your current subscription.
You already have to choose between fixed price and indexed price offers from alternative, historical or green suppliers. The editorial staff invites you to make the difference between these 3 types of suppliers.
The historical supplier is the one that has always existed, i.e. EDF. The local distribution companies or ELD are also considered as such. EDF has been both producer and supplier in the UK. Individuals and professionals have called upon its services. It is undoubtedly the most reliable supplier. This is not surprising given its experience. The prices applied by this supplier are regulated by the public authorities and are slightly higher than those of other companies.
Alternative suppliers have been around since 2007, when the state announced the opening of the market to competition. These are the new suppliers that became EDF's competitors. The arrival of these companies has allowed consumers to be freer in the choice of their electricity offer.
The proposals of alternative suppliers are more interesting, because more innovative and relatively cheaper. However, there are still companies that charge higher rates with additional services. They are not subject to fixed prices, imposed by the public authorities.
The
green electricity supplier represents a category of its own. Its offers are certified by guarantees of origin. They guarantee that the process used is part of the principle of renewable energy. There are premium offers that are even more reliable, because after all, guarantees of origin can be sourced quite easily.
Premium green electricity providers work with renewable producers both for the purchase of guarantees and for the electricity. Generally, the tariffs here are higher because the production costs are significantly higher. The best known companies in this sector are Planète Oui, Enercoop, Ilek and Ekwateur.
The regulated tariff is a priori proposed by EDF, through the blue tariff. It is determined by the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie on the one hand and by the State on the other. To this end, the offers are changed in January and August every year and the prices tend to rise continuously.
The market offer is divided into two systems. On the one hand, there are fixed prices. These are more attractive to consumers because they are more stable. The prices do not change for at least a year. The duration changes from one contract to another. However, you should know that fixed prices are higher than regulated prices at first glance. In addition, the rates increase with taxes.
On the other hand, there are indexed prices. These are always cheaper than the regulated tariff, because they are set at a lower percentage of the regulated tariff. However, they follow the trend of the regulated price. If EDF's price rises, the suppliers using this system follow suit.
Market offers are beneficial if the regulated tariffs increase, especially with fixed prices. With this option, you can change supplier at the end of the contract period. On the other hand, the consumer loses out if the EDF rates go down, unless he chooses the indexed rate.
Don't rely too much on canvassing
Some suppliers use various canvassing techniques to convince consumers to switch. It is true that you will get all the information about their offer more easily this way, but it is not necessarily interesting. It is always wise to do the comparison on your own.
Take the same data when comparing
When
you do the comparison, make sure the same data is used. Otherwise, the result may be skewed. Use the same estimate for consumption.
Find out about new offers
Even
if all is well with your current supplier, consider checking the evolution of the offer on the market to see if there is not a more interesting proposal
.
The dual gas and electricity offer can be interesting
The
gas and electricity combo turns out to be a good idea when it is offered with a discount. Which is the case most of the time. Plus, you won't have to pay two different bills with this alternative.
Do you know the role of an energy broker?
The
energy broker helps you get your hands on the contract that best suits your consumption profile. He evaluates your consumption trend through your bills. Then, he contacts various suppliers to make a simulation and negotiate the best rates for you.
The best electricity supplier depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are best for you.
This is the best way to define your needs. Not everyone knows how to evaluate their consumption. You can also compare several offers on the basis of criteria put forward by professionals.
In addition to the supply of electricity, these companies offer related services that have a bearing on customer relations. These services improve the customer experience for consumers.
Find the supplier that suits you and subscribe on its website or on the multi-vendor platforms.
Internet electricity offers are cheaper, as the subscription and regularisation steps are all dematerialised. However, this is not the best option if you prefer human contact for any assistance.
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