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Gas and electricity tariffs have been rising for years, while energy companies are making big profits. And liberalisation has not brought the expected advantages for consumers neither. So, what can be done? In Belgium, resistance is stirring. The magic formula is: Power4You.
Sockets and switches mostly have a good appetite. They guzzle vast quantities of current every day. They are a burden both for our environment and our purse. While energy companies make large profits, there seems to be no limit to the trend for electricity and gas tariffs to rise.
All in all, 15 different organisations - among them the Verbraucherschutzzentrale - have joint a cooperative to compete with the monopolists. The CRIOC (Centre for Research and Information of the Consumer Organisations) is the project leader.
The aim is to provide interested members with current and/or gas under optimum conditions. This includes a fair price, optimal contract conditions and at least 60 percent of green electricity.
The CRIOC is of the view that everyone has a right of access to energy, just as he has the right to have access to water, health care and education. According to this principle of human dignity, everyone must have uninterrupted and fair access to adequate quantities of energy in order to satisfy his daily needs, like fuel or light his accommodation, and all this at an affordable price. The Verbraucherschutzzentrale also is aware of the uncertainties caused by the liberalisation of the gas and electricity market. It therefore wants to accompany the consumer and to help him to make the right choice.
The cooperative Power4You has concluded a contract with an energy and gas supplier and negotiated advantageous conditions.
Those who are members of one of the organisations affiliated with Power4You will get in addition to 100% green electricity, a package of reductions of up to 20 euro and a 2.5 percent cut on their energy consumption.
The duration of the contract may be 1, 2 or 3 years with a guaranteed semi-variable fixed price. Semi-variable means that the mere electricity and gas price is fixed for the duration of the contract.
Moreover, the CRIOC has set up an arbitration board, where consumers can turn to if they should have complaints.
The consumer can do the switch either via the Power4You website or via one of the organisations affiliated to Power4You.
For further information please contact 087/59 18 50.