Price comparison tools (websites or apps) are essential for helping consumers compare electricity offers and choosing a supplier and tariff. Consumers want to rely on clear, accurate, and trustworthy information when using these tools, but the reliability and transparency of these vary. That is why the tools need to be designed with these aspects in mind to ensure consumers can effectively compare different electricity contract offers.
Unclear distinctions partly exist between pure (independent) comparison tools and third-party intermediary platforms that also earn commissions through switching services integrated into the tool. This blurred line creates transparency issues, especially when sponsored offers are not clearly labelled or when ranking criteria are not sufficiently disclosed.
Some shortcomings identified in comparison tools and third-party intermediary platforms and recommendations:
- unclear differentiation in the legal framework between comparison-only tools and platforms that also facilitate supplier and contract switching;
- partly insufficient transparency around their business models, sponsorships, and ranking criteria for offers;
- risks of dark or deceptive design patterns favouring commission-based offers;
- lack of clear rules for commercial tools compared to independent, regulator-supervised ones;
- need for clear labelling and transparent explanation of sponsored offers to warrant fair treatment of supplier offers in the search results and switching phase;
- careful implementation of the calculation method of the index price for dynamic price offers and of its display in the tool;
- all operators to disclose whether they are independent or commercial.
The Commission should consider and scrutinise these aspects in the Digital Fairness Act (2026) and use existing legislation – such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act – to rectify them.