43 percent Poles have never changed their electricity supplier

43 percent Poles have never changed their electricity supplier, and 39 percent gas suppliers – according to published EU Eurobarometer research. Every third respondent claims that changing the operator does not change anything, and every fifth says that the procedures are too complicated and time-consuming.

Research on consumer behavior in the EU in the era of energy transformation shows that 76 percent Poles and 63 percent EU residents believe that energy suppliers in their countries offer reliable services and fair prices.

At the same time four out of ten Poles and 25 percent Europeans have never changed electricity or gas suppliers, and 11 percent the last change was made over a decade ago. Among the most frequently mentioned reasons, Polish respondents mainly pointed to the fact that national suppliers are not much different from each other, so switching will not help (31%), every fourth said that it is difficult for them to compare the offers of different operators, and every fifth said that the switching procedure itself is complicated and time-consuming. 19 percent Poles say they are satisfied with the services and prices of the current operator; More people think the same, as many as 52%. EU residents.

When it comes to actions that the EU and Member States should take to improve the situation on the energy market, 38% respondents in the EU (27% in Poland) believe that the EU should better protect citizens against energy poverty. 34 percent (39% in Poland) believe that energy bills should be more transparent, the same number (29% in Poland) point to the need for better protection against unfair commercial practices, including telemarketers. Three out of ten respondents would like to have better digital access to their customer accounts, and every fourth wants it easier to change energy suppliers.

When it comes to electricity or gas bills, it's 40%. Poles find them illegible and difficult to understand; this is more than the EU average, which was 22%. Only one third of those surveyed in the EU understand the components of the bills they receive. At the same time, 36 percent has problems with understanding, among others: tax fees (VAT and excise duty), as well as transmission fees. Every sixth respondent does not understand how the total costs of energy consumption are calculated, which means the cost of a unit of energy consumed (1 kWh) and does not fully understand the terms of the contract signed with the supplier.

More than 18,000 people took part in the research conducted in 27 Member States. respondents.

From Brussels Jowita Kiwnik Pargana (PAP)

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