Switching electricity and gas supplier could have saved Austrian households €1,148

In particular, the study indicates that since 2024, families that have consistently changed supplier have paid overall about a third less for electricity and gas than those who remained loyal to the most advantageous tariff of their respective Landesversorger. The difference, calculated across various consumption brackets, led to cumulative savings that in some consumption segments reaches and justifies the figure of €1,148.

Among the historical operators called into question by the comparison are Burgenland Energie, VKW, Salzburg AG, Tiwag, EVN and Wien Energie — that is, the main regional utilities that operate as reference suppliers in their respective Länder. The analysis compares their regulated tariffs with those of alternative operators present on the free market.

Regional operators in the comparison

According to the same source, the gap between the reference tariff and the market offer remained wide throughout the period considered, indicating that the price differential has not substantially narrowed despite fluctuations in wholesale markets. This means that the cost-effectiveness of switching supplier has remained constant, not occasional.

The regulatory authority E-Control is among the sources that have commented on retail price trends in the reference period. The body recalls that in Austria switching from one supplier to another is technically possible in a short time and that the switching procedure is regulated in a way that reduces the burden on the final consumer.

Why many households do not switch

Several energy policy experts cited in the report stress that the failure of households to save is not necessarily attributable to a conscious choice: in many cases, households do not update their contract out of inertia, lack of time, or because they consider the service of the regional operator sufficiently reliable. The platform therefore urges consumers to check periodically the offers available, especially in conjunction with the annual tariff expiry.

The potential saving also varies according to household consumption bracket: for smaller households the absolute advantage is more limited, while for households with high consumption — for example, large families or homes with electric heating — the cumulative difference over two years is more marked. The Verbrauchsstufen considered by the study cover different housing types, from small apartments to single-family houses.

Differences between Bundesländer

In terms of market structure, the analysis highlights that the share of domestic customers remaining with the Landesversorger remains significant in all Länder analysed. In the case of Burgenland, where Burgenland Energie operates, the switching share is historically among the highest in the country, while in other regions the supplier switching rate continues to be below the national average.

Looking ahead, the platform's analysts indicate that the economic advantage of switching supplier could only diminish in the event of structural alignment between regulated and market tariffs — an eventuality that has not yet occurred. For this reason, they recommend that consumers carry out at least one annual comparison and carefully evaluate the contractual conditions proposed by alternative operators, including any sign-up bonuses or minimum commitment periods.