Renewable Norway wants to put an end to door-to-door electricity sales or you being tricked into entering into an electricity contract you don’t fully understand as you walk down the street.
But for now, they don’t do anything about the fact that you can walk into a store and walk out again with a toaster… And a new electricity supplier. Some chains give you a discount if you switch power companies.
– This is not where we had the complaints but this will be assessed at the next fork in the road. It’s for consideration, says Åslaug Haga, general manager of Fornybar Norge, which, among other things, organizes power companies.
– Some cowboys
The suspension of doorstep and street sales only applies to the 24 companies that are part of Renewable Norway’s certification scheme Safe exchange of power.
It is true that these are the largest electricity companies in the country, covering 80% of Norwegian electricity customers, but they also estimate that in total there are around 95 companies selling electricity.
– Therefore, consumers need to make sure that the companies are part of Trygg Strømhandel, Haga tells VG.
– From what date will out-of-town and itinerant sales be prohibited?
– Some companies will implement it immediately. But some have people employed to do this job, and this needs to be managed properly. In the coming months, this will be done by everyone.
Haga also wants it to be easier for the authorities to strip unscrupulous players of their license to sell electricity.
– There are some power companies that are not serious and we are keen to get them out of business. There are some cowboys who destroy the vast majority of serious players and these undermine confidence in the entire renewable energy industry. We don’t want that to be the case, says Haga, who became chief on January 1 Renewable Norway.
The organization saw the light of day when Energi Norge and Norwea (the Norwegian wind energy association) merged.
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It will have stricter requirements
The Consumer Council previously came out strongly and stated that consumers just not Touch who are deceived when buying electricity, they will be. The customer watchdog says electricity contracts are complicated by an awareness and willingness to sell the most expensive electricity possible. The Electrical Appeals Panel also received complaint records last year.
– There must be stricter requirements to be able to sell electricity and if you don’t act ethically and in accordance with the license, you must lose the opportunity to sell electricity, says Haga.
It is the Energy Regulatory Authority (RME) which issues a license to sell electricity while The Norwegian Consumer Authority check that the marketing is carried out in compliance with the marketing law and that the agreements that consumers have to enter into are not illegal.
– Was it too easy to get a license?
– Yes. We believe that the authorities should be tougher on those who get a driving license and tougher on those who act frivolously, says Haga.
The Trygg strømhandel certification scheme was established in 2020 and, to date, 24 electricity companies are part of it, while two are in the implementation phase. The scheme is administered by DNV, formerly known as Det Norske Veritas.
– Companies must meet a number of requirements to be certified. They must, of course, follow all laws and regulations and undertake to provide correct information on all available electricity contracts. It should also clearly state how long the agreements will last and how you will be notified of price changes and other terms. Promotional offers cannot be misused to trick people into inferior contracts, says Haga.
The scheme also establishes clear requirements on skills and training.
