Energy Providers 101

There is no single company per area or region, so there is no monopoly.

Prices may be a bit higher than what you are used to in your home country.

You should know, at least approximately, how much electricity you use in a year (kWh).

Some companies might offer a “bonus” if you commit to staying with them for at least a year. Some might even offer cinema tickets or other discounts.

One person in a household usually uses 1,000 to 1,500 kWh per year. However, these numbers are estimates and may vary depending on the types of appliances you have. (Maybe you have a super high-power-consuming GPU or CPU, multiple monitors, a couple of 3D printers, etc.)

When you sign up with a provider and give them your estimate, they charge you a fixed amount every month.

The good news is that, even if you get the number wrong, at the end of the year, you either get money back (if you used less than your estimate) or are charged a bit more (if you used more than your estimate).

However, it is good to know approximately how much electricity you use every year so that the deals you find are more accurate for your consumption level.