“We invite you to change supplier”: this is the subject of the mail received by 10,000 to 15,000 people in France, having a subscription with the Spanish energy supplier Iberdrola. As BFMTV reports, the company announced that it could no longer keep up with runaway electricity prices, estimated at 38% on January 1, 2022.

“We do not want to automatically renew contracts with existing customers, as many of them would be seriously affected. It is better for them to opt for the regulated tariff in France,” said the Iberdrola spokesperson. The company therefore prefers to warn consumers: “If they do not react, prices will double or triple for them”. Iberdrola is thus following the same path as the suppliers E. Leclerc Énergie and Bulb, which even had to cease their activity due to inflation.

Iberdrola customers will continue to receive electricity at the same price by the end of 2022. Those whose contract ended in October received the famous letter inviting them to switch supplier afterwards. “It’s such an inexplicable situation that we preferred to give our customers the means to protect their own interests”, testifies the spokesperson for the company.

Indeed, French customers have every interest in taking advantage of the tariff shield offered by the State to counter soaring energy prices, which limits the regulated sales tariffs (TRV) of electricity to 4% in 2022. According to a report by the Court of Auditors dating from July 2022, 67% of French households benefit from these regulated tariffs via their energy supplier.

Emmanuelle Wargon, new president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), spoke on this subject on Wednesday July 24, 2022 on RMC. She said she pays particular attention to protecting the interests of Iberdrola customers affected by the sudden termination of their subscription. “Me, my role is to check that they apply competition regulations, that they do this in accordance with the rules,” she explained on the air.

The former Minister of Housing wanted consumers “to be able to find a new supplier so that there is no interruption and that they are protected by the tariff shield on electricity and gas”. “We can help them, enlighten them in their choice,” she said.