Since July 1st, 2007, the energy market in France has been open to competition, allowing households to switch providers freely and without cost. While this has led to the rise of online platforms that help consumers compare energy deals and save money, these tools are not without their issues. According to Frédérique Fériaud, director of the national energy mediator, some of these platforms earn commissions from suppliers when a customer signs up through them, potentially affecting their impartiality. Additionally, energy suppliers are not required to register their offers on these platforms, meaning the lists of available contracts may not be complete. Two platforms stand out for their transparency: Que Choisir Ensemble, which is not paid by companies to list contracts or share customer details, and the energy mediator itself, which includes factors beyond price in its comparisons. The Energy Regulation Commission (CRE) has created a rating system to classify energy offers based on how stable their prices are. The highest rating, A, is given to offers with completely fixed prices for both electricity usage and subscription, offering protection against price changes. In contrast, the lowest rating, D, is assigned to offers whose prices fluctuate daily based on stock market conditions or are determined at the supplier's discretion. The national energy mediator has incorporated this rating into its comparison tool. When an energy provider offers a fixed price, it is important to understand for how long that price is guaranteed. The locking period provides protection against market volatility, especially in the gas sector. Longer locks offer more security against future price increases, but they also prevent consumers from taking advantage of potential price drops. Some providers, such as Engie and Alterna Energy, currently offer a three-year lock period. Households that closely monitor price changes might prefer shorter contracts, such as one-year agreements. Subscription fees, which are separate from energy consumption, are often overlooked by small consumers. For a household with a 3-kilovoltampere (kVa) meter, the subscription cost can make up nearly half of the annual electricity bill, while for gas, it can exceed 32% of the total. Platforms like Que Choisir Ensemble and the national energy mediator provide detailed breakdowns of annual bills, separating the cost of electricity or gas from the subscription fee. Beyond price, the quality of customer service is a factor that is often ignored until a problem arises. The energy mediator publishes an annual dispute rate for each provider, which helps assess their reliability. A high number of disputes may indicate questionable or illegal business practices. The mediator's comparator includes this information along with a rating. Providers with a five-star rating (fewer than 25 disputes per 100,000 contracts) are generally preferable. "Green" electricity offers aim to combine energy consumption with environmental responsibility. Suppliers offering such contracts claim to inject renewable energy, such as wind or solar power, into the grid. The Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe) has developed a label called VertVolt to recognize operators that promote clean electricity produced in France. To qualify for this label, companies must purchase electricity directly from French producers in amounts equivalent to what they sell to their customers. The national energy mediator's comparator lists the percentage of electricity from renewable sources for each provider and whether the company holds the Ademe label. So far, 13 contracts from companies like EDF, Enercoop, Octopus Energy, and Ilek have received this label. Switching electricity providers is a quick process that can be completed in about fifteen minutes. Consumers need the delivery point (PDL) for electricity or the metering and estimation point (PCE) for gas, which is a 14-digit number that identifies the home. If the household does not have a smart meter called Linky, consumers must read the meter and provide the index. The new provider will handle the paperwork to end the previous contract. Individuals are not bound by long-term commitments and can cancel contracts without fees, whether they are tenants or homeowners. They can also change providers as often as they like within the year.