The electricity-offer checklist: seven checks before you switch.

European electricity markets use different taxes, network charges, tariff periods and consumer protections. The final national calculation must therefore come from a regulator, authorised comparison service or supplier. The comparison method, however, can remain consistent: give every offer the same household profile and count every cost over the same period.

1. Build a twelve-month usage profile

Find annual electricity consumption in kWh. Some bills show a rolling annual total; otherwise add twelve months of meter-based bills. Record how consumption changes by season and, if the meter provides it, by time of day. A single winter or summer month can produce a distorted annual estimate.

List large flexible loads such as an electric vehicle, immersion heater, heat pump, pool pump, air conditioning, storage heater or home battery. Mark which can move into a cheaper tariff period. A time-of-use offer only saves money when the household can use enough electricity at the cheaper times.

2. Record the fixed or capacity charges

Many offers combine a unit price with a daily, monthly or capacity-based charge. The name varies by country. Record every fixed payment and convert it to a twelve-month figure. Where the bill uses contracted power in kW, keep the same kW level in every comparison unless you are separately assessing whether the capacity can safely change.

3. Classify the price mechanism

A fixed price may protect selected commercial components for a set term, but taxes and regulated network charges can still change. A variable product allows the supplier to change prices under the contract. An indexed product follows a published formula. A dynamic product follows market intervals and normally requires a suitable smart meter.

Ask the supplier to identify the exact formula, index, margin, update frequency and notice procedure. “Market price” is incomplete without these details. For a fixed product, ask which line items are fixed and the date that protection ends.

4. Add every service, fee and conditional discount

Maintenance plans, appliance cover, boiler services, loyalty memberships, paper billing and equipment rental can change the result. A discount can depend on direct debit, electronic billing or buying another product. Add all compulsory services to the annual figure. If a service is optional, obtain the price of the energy contract without it.

Blank structure for two shortlisted offers

Annual cost element	Offer A	Offer B
Energy consumed	€_____	€_____
Standing / power charge	€_____	€_____
Meter or equipment	€_____	€_____
Required services	€_____	€_____
Estimated taxes and regulated charges	€_____	€_____
Solar export credit	− €_____	− €_____
Comparable annual total	€_____	€_____

5. For solar, compare import and export together

Record annual grid import and measured or conservatively estimated grid export. Do not use total panel generation as the export figure because electricity consumed directly in the property never reaches the grid. Apply each offer’s import and export method, then add fixed charges and services.

Check metering, registration, installation-size and commissioning-date rules. Ask whether the export value is fixed, indexed, capped, carried forward or lost at the end of a settlement period. A high export rate can be outweighed by an expensive import tariff or monthly fee.

6. Read the contract conditions

7. Verify through the national source

Use the national regulator, consumer authority or public comparison service where available. It can apply local network zones, regulated products, taxes and eligibility more accurately than a general European tool. Rayte’s EU country directory lists a starting source for all 27 member states.

Then open the supplier’s own current offer and contract. Confirm that the address, meter, customer type and start date are eligible. Save the result and terms with the date because a web price can change.

Final five-minute decision check

• All offers use the same annual kWh and tariff periods.
• Fixed charges and required services are included for twelve months.
• Promotional prices have a clear end date.
• Solar export is based on exported—not generated—electricity.
• The exit and renewal conditions are acceptable.
• The national comparison source and supplier page agree.
• A dated copy of the accepted offer is saved.

Where to continue

• Official comparison and regulator sources for all EU countries
• Why the wholesale chart is not a household tariff
• How to assess a solar export offer

This is general information, not a personal quotation or financial, legal or engineering advice. Confirm current local rules and contract terms.