The energy crisis, the surge in electricity and gas prices and with it, that of individual and business bills have led in their wake to an increase in disputes linked to this subject. The number of complaints related to price changes recorded by the Energy Mediator jumped by 74% and those from professionals and co-owners by 72%. And this, while the number of referrals, in 2023, remained stable compared to the year 2022, i.e. 13,999 referrals compared to 13,751 referrals a year earlier.
In this tense context, the sector Mediator distributes four red cards to suppliers that he had already targeted for their contentious practices. Thus, Wekiwi received a red card for the second year in a row, “for its recurring bad practices at all times during the life of the contracts”. Almost all of the referrals made concerning Wekiwi were reported to the DGCCRF for non-compliance with one or more provisions of the Consumer Code. With 612 referrals per 100,000 contracts, Wekiwi is the supplier with the highest rate of referrals in 2023, 15 times higher than the average rate for all suppliers combined (40).
Another red card is awarded to suppliers who “sometimes deliberately understate the amount of their customers’ monthly payments”. As a result, regularization invoices can reach several hundred or even thousands of euros at the end of the period. If Eni is particularly targeted, the alert also concerns Ohm Énergie, Engie and Wekiwi.
Finally, a red card targets Enedis, the distribution network manager, penalized for the poor handling of its customers’ complaints. These complaints concern both the quality of their electricity supply, their requests for connection to the electricity distribution network, as well as the deterioration of the conditions for investigating these disputes in mediation. The mediator also criticizes Enedis for “particularly objectionable practices”. This concerns consumption adjustments beyond 14 months, in violation of article L. 224-11 of the Consumer Code, delayed commissioning due to the absence of a Linky meter or even refusals to carry out works which Enedis had nevertheless indicated were urgent for safety reasons!