Increase in Reliability of Comparative Sites for Energy Prices

The quality of websites which compare energy prices has increased considerably. Consumers can now visit the most frequently consulted sides with confidence. The correctness and completeness of the sites, in particular, have been improved. The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) reached this conclusion after carrying out an assessment of the sites for the second time.

Peter Plug, Acting Director of the Office of Energy Regulation, a part of NMa: 'At the end of last year, we concluded that the quality of comparative sites had to be improved considerably. Not a single site offered complete and reliable data or was entirely transparent. Reliability and transparency with regard to prices, however, is an important condition for enabling consumers to make a well-considered choice of energy supplier. Almost 70% of consumers who consider switching to a different energy supplier consult comparative sites and slightly fewer than 40% of them even base their decision to switch on these sites. In discussions with the creators of the websites, we explained to them that they play a crucial role in this. We reached agreement with them on the criteria which a reliable site should meet. It is good to see that the improvements which our first investigation showed to be necessary have now largely been implemented."

At present, there are nine different comparative sites for electricity and gas prices which make use of four search engines. DTe assessed the most frequently visited comparative sites per search engine, namely: Energieprijzen.nl, Gaslicht.com, Energiewereld.nl and Energieplaza.nl.

Overview of comparative sites and search engines

The websites were assessed on the basis of three criteria:

• Accuracy (Are the price calculations carried out properly?)
• Completeness (Are all energy suppliers, products and costs included?)
• Independence(Which parties have an interest in the comparative sites and are there demonstrable non-desirable relationships with the energy market?

The most important conclusions from DTe's research:

• Three of the four search engines provide consumers with correct calculations. The calculations for gas prices are less precise than those for electricity.
• Energieprijzen.nl is the only comparative site which compares 'dual fuel' products (combined electricity and gas packages).
• The completeness of the four comparative sites has improved considerably since DTe's first assessment. All the available suppliers of electricity and gas are now shown, although not all the available products are presented.
• Three of the four sites are actually independent: Energieprijzen.nl, Gaslicht.com and Energiewereld.nl.

Results of the quality assessment of electricity and gas comparative sites July 2005

Results of the quality assessment of electricity and gas comparative sites December 2004

The regulator will start a third assessment of the quality of comparative sites for energy prices at the end of this year. Other initiatives which allow consumers to compare energy prices will also be assessed. These will include mainly websites of consultancy firms which provide consumers with tailor-made advice on energy products at a fee. Examples includee-butler.nl, energielijn.nl, eigenhuis.nl, energiedienstbrabant.nl, abc-energy.com and e-econcern.nl.

Assessing comparative sites is part of DTe's strategy to increase the transparency of the energy market for consumers. The research report is available as of today from DTe's website.