Energy company Luminus has announced fixed energy contract prices that it is offering again this month.
For a family of four, who heat with gas and live in a terraced house, Luminus estimates the monthly energy costs at €301.49, good for an annual bill of €3,600. This is evident from the speed simulator on the Luminus website.
This so-called ‘Comfy’ tariff is therefore around 30 euros more expensive than the cheapest Luminus tariff, the variable Comfyflex tariff which promises the ‘best price’. For such a family, this equates to a monthly cost of €272.16.
‘One fixed rate offers peace of mind. On the other hand, it makes sense that a fixed contract is more expensive than a variable contract,’ says Nico De Bie, spokesperson for Luminus. ‘With an open-ended contract, the supplier must guarantee the supply of energy at the same price for the duration of the contract, with no possibility for the supplier to cancel it.’
The interest on the permanent contract will depend on how the energy markets evolve in the coming weeks and months. If these prices continue to fall, a floating contract, which evolves with energy prices on wholesale markets, may be cheaper. In comparison: according to the Vreg, the Flemish energy agency, families who entered into a new contract in December still had to charge an annual bill of around 5,090 euros, or around 425 euros per month. Luminus isn’t (yet) following the lead of other energy companies.
Do not rush
Consumer organization Test Aankoop, meanwhile, warns against haste: An analysis of new tariff charts from Luminus shows that fixed prices per kWh for electricity have increased by 13 to 19 percent compared to January 2022. For gas, there has been stagnation or even a decline compared to January 2022. compared to January 2022. Test Aankoop welcomes the fact that Luminus is once again offering permanent contracts, but advises against opting for a contract of the genre too quickly. He recommends being patient and waiting for other providers’ rate cards to be published as well.
