The Energy Ombudsman is alarmed that six in ten French ignore able to choose another electricity supplier EDF, GDF, or for gas, four years after market opening to competition.

The introduction of competition in the energy sector is still too little known to consumers. Four years after the introduction of competition in the gas market and energy, only four in ten French have clearly identified that they could choose another supplier EDF for electricity or gas to GDF, notes the Energy Ombudsman, which publishes its annual survey Thursday. Since 2007, this proportion increased by only seven points, and not at all this year. The transition to competition is even more difficult than 80% of respondents are unaware of how to change operator.

A surprising lack of information, while the French are more than ever attentive to the amount of their gas bills and electricity. Three quarters of respondents feel their energy as a major concern. Remember, the regulated prices of gas rose by 5.2% on average in April. Over one year the increase amounted to more than 20%. As for the electricity bill, it was inflated in 2010 and 2011 by several successive increases in regulated prices.