Residential electricity consumers will be permitted to change as many as three suppliers without having previously settled older energy bills or made installment-based payback arrangements, while business consumers will be set a two-supplier limit, according to a latest third version of upcoming rules intended to prevent consumers from abandoning suppliers despite owing electricity-bill amounts, a phenomenon locally dubbed “energy tourism”.

These limits for residential and business consumers will be applied retroactively, beginning January 1, 2020.

The new rules will also include a debt-flagging system on a collective platform maintained by distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO, so that suppliers may be aware if prospective customers have been on the run.

Also, punctual customers will, as a reward, face less red tape if wanting to switch electricity suppliers.

RAAEY, the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water, is now working on the latest revisions to the plan, which, once completed, will be forwarded to the energy ministry for implementation.