Energy suppliers Vattenfall and Eneco have temporarily reduced the availability of fixed-term contracts after sharp increases in gas prices linked to the war in the Middle East. Both companies confirmed the move following reports in several media outlets.
Vattenfall has resumed offering fixed contracts for one or three years. Variable contracts are expected to return on Wednesday. However, the number of available contracts remains limited. A Vattenfall spokesperson stated that the company is limiting purchase volumes due to the highly volatile market. As a result, fewer contracts are being offered, and priority is being given to existing customers.
He added that new contracts are now more expensive than they were before the attacks that began last weekend, but did not specify the scale of the increase.
New Customers
At Eneco, fixed three-year contracts were not available to new customers via third-party platforms, such as price comparison websites, on Tuesday. According to a company spokesperson, some contracts were still sold through Eneco’s own website and by phone, but only in limited numbers. The company has also stopped offering cashbacks, which are discounts customers receive when their contracts end.
The spokesperson noted that Eneco’s rates and purchase prices can change rapidly. “It could be different tomorrow; the markets are very dynamic. That also applies to the rates,” he said.
European gas prices rose sharply on Monday and Tuesday. Prices increased by almost 50 per cent on Monday and a further 30 per cent on Tuesday.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
