The next gas check It can increase the bill before many homes even turn on the radiators. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) foresees a 54% increase for a home with gas heating covered by the regulated rate starting in October. The calculation is provisional, waiting for the final prices that will be applied during the last quarter of the year to be published.
The increase would affect the Last Resort Rate (TUR), which is reviewed every three months. Those who have a contract on the free market will have to pay attention to their own conditions and the renewal date, since this review is not automatically transferred to all gas bills.
How much could you pay more for gas?
The OCU takes as a reference a home with gas heating and a consumption of 9,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per yearwithin the TUR.2 modality. For this example, he estimates that the annual expense would be around 910 euros if the prices he foresees for October were maintained for twelve months. The difference compared to the calculation with current rates would be about 310 euros.
That does not mean that the next bill will increase by 310 euros or that this extra cost is guaranteed for next year. It is a annualized comparison for the same consumption. The amount each household ends up paying will depend on the gas they use and the following rate revisions.
Furthermore, the expense is concentrated in the months in which the heating works. Therefore, distributing that difference between twelve monthly payments does not reflect how the increase will reach the receipts.
Why is there talk of an increase of almost 70%
The estimates distinguish between the price of the energy consumed and the full amount of the bill. According to the organization’s calculations, the variable term of the TUR.2 could go from about 4.12 to 6.95 cents per kWh, an increase close to 69%.
This percentage corresponds to price of each kilowatt hour consumed. The receipt also includes the fixed term, the accountant’s rent and taxes. When considering the set of concepts, the OCU places the expected increase in prices at 54% for the reference home.
Behind this forecast is the cost of acquiring gas. In the fourth quarter review, futures markets have a weight of almost 47% in the formula that calculates the cost of raw materials. The prices observed by the organization in these markets point to an increase in October, although we will have to wait for the official publication to know its extent.
What happens if you haven’t turned on the heating yet?
Having the radiators off reduces consumption, but a home can still use gas for hot water or cooking. If the price per kWh increases, these uses also become more expensive in the contracts affected by the review.
Now, The calculation of the additional 310 euros includes heating consumption. It is not useful to estimate the rise of a home that only uses gas for showering or cooking. With different consumption, the impact in euros also changes.
Is it advisable to change the rate before October?
The OCU advises waiting to know the final prices before leave the TUR. An increase in the regulated rate does not guarantee that free market offers will be cheaper, and these may also become more expensive.
To compare, it is advisable to review both the kWh price as the fixed term and check if the offer includes maintenance services or other payments. The duration of the advertised price and possible penalties for canceling the contract also influence the cost.
Those who already have a fixed price contracted may find themselves in a different situation. In your case, it is interesting to check how long it is maintained and what conditions will apply when renewing it. A recent bill and annual consumption allow for a comparison tailored to each home when the new rates are known.