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Managing a second home is often an opportunity to exercise discretion when it comes to energy, electricity and gas. In fact, energy consumption habits there are often very different from primary residences, since secondary residences are not occupied most of the year. So this makes a proper energy contract all the more important if we want to avoid unnecessary costs and optimize consumption.
In this guide, we help you explore the offers available, identify the necessary criteria and direct you to the best electricity and gas deals for your second home.
Why a second home specific energy contract?
A second home is, by definition, an intermittent residence, often for vacations or weekends. As a result, electricity and gas consumption is lower and more irregular than in a central residence. By choosing the right energy contract, it is possible to:
- Optimize costs based on actual usage.
- Minimize power consumption during non-busy periods.
- Avoid the costs of starting and stopping the electric meter or gas meter during each stay.
Understand the types of electricity and gas contracts for a second home.
To choose the best deal, it helps to familiarize yourself with the available energy deals, including pricing options and consumption details.
Electricity contracts
Suppliers offer electricity contracts that vary according to pricing mechanism, type of meter, and level of electricity subscribed. Here are the common options:
- Base Rate: This rate offers a fixed price per kilowatt hour (kWh), regardless of the time of day or year. It is often recommended for low-use second homes.
- Peak/Off-Peak Rate: This contract allows you to take advantage of a lower rate per kWh during off-peak hours, and a higher rate during peak hours. It may be beneficial if the residence is equipped with programmable devices to operate during off-peak hours.
- Linky Meters: Second homes equipped with Linky meters allow home owners to remotely view tariff options to manage consumption in real-time and monitor consumption at any time.
Current Best Electricity Offer:
Gas contracts
Gas contracts may vary depending on specific needs: Heating, cooking or hot water production for another home. You basically have two options:
- Regulated tariffs: These tariffs, offered by historic suppliers such as Engie in France, are set by the authorities and usually offer greater price stability. If you are looking for a fixed bill without price fluctuations, this is a suitable solution.
- Market Price Offer: The price is quoted directly by the supplier. It can be fixed, with a fixed price for a certain period, or variable, changing with the gas market. This can be beneficial if your gas usage varies with the seasons.
In all cases, it’s important to compare the options to choose the contract that best suits your needs and the use of your secondary home.
Current Best Gas Offer:
What are the criteria for choosing the right energy contract for a second home?
In order to find the most beneficial energy contract for a second home, it is important to evaluate certain criteria:
Estimated consumption and metered power
The annual electricity consumption of a second home depends on many factors, including the frequency of occupancy, the number of electrical appliances used, the need for heating or air conditioning, etc. As a general rule, a power meter between 3 and 6 kVA is sufficient for small consumption. For a large secondary home or a home used in the winter, you should consider higher power.
Frequency of passage
Sometimes it is possible that visits to another home are more regular, in which case a contract with a peak/off-peak option may be beneficial to use energy-efficient appliances during low-rate periods. On the other hand, if the stay is only a few weeks per year, a base rate, often more economical, may prove sufficient.
Possibility of remote management
Linky meters, associated with certain energy providers, offer tools to remotely monitor and adjust the intensity of electricity consumption. For another home owner, this can represent a significant advantage: it becomes possible to observe consumption in real time, disable certain appliances remotely and orchestrate better periods of absence.
Gas options to suit heating needs
If the secondary home is equipped with gas heating, it may be appropriate to choose a contract with a seasonal offer or a fixed price offer to anticipate price changes in the winter, when demand is high.
Best energy suppliers and offers for other homes
Many suppliers offer tailored offerings for second homes with specific options for intermittent use.
EDF and regulated tariff offers
For other households, the EDF Blue Tariff is a simple and reliable option. Due to its stability, this regulated rate is particularly suitable for those who occupy their second home irregularly and who prefer to avoid price fluctuations.
Ohm Energie: Offers tailored to low consumption.
Ohm Energie offers particularly suitable for second homes with advantageous rates for low consumption. The “Petit Conso” offer is especially interesting for second homes with less traffic. With easy online management and easy invoicing, this option is ideal for those who want to control their expenses seamlessly.
Total Energy and Green Offer
TotalEnergies offers green electricity tailored to those who want to minimize their environmental impact. With customizable options depending on frequency of occupancy, it is an exciting choice for those looking for an environmentally responsible offering for their second home.
Eng for gas
For a second home equipped with gas, Engie offers fixed price and variable price, allowing you to choose according to needs. Its “fixed gas” offering can avoid sudden spikes in regulated rates in the winter.
Improve your second home’s energy consumption
In addition to choosing the right contract, some habits and installations can help to optimize consumption and costs:
Install a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat allows you to maintain a minimum temperature in the winter to prevent frost damage, while reducing consumption when the home is unoccupied.
Choose appliances with low consumption.
Home appliances with a high energy class (A++ or A+++) use less energy and can make a real difference to the bill in the long term, especially for appliances like refrigerators or water heaters.
Turn off unnecessary devices remotely.
With a Linky meter and an energy supplier that offers remote management, it is possible to remotely cut off some electrical appliances during absence.
Monitor and monitor consumption
Some supplier applications, such as Ohm Energy or Total Energy, allow detailed usage monitoring. This can be useful for detecting waste and adjusting device usage.
Subscribing to an electricity or gas contract for a second home is easy and can be done online or over the telephone. The steps to follow are:
- Compare offers: Use an online energy comparator to find the most suitable offers.
- Prepare the necessary information: PDL (Point of Delivery) number for electricity, PCE (Point of Counting and Estimation) number for gas, as well as meter reading.
- Choose power level: Adjust the power of the meter according to the estimated consumption.
- Subscribe online or by telephone: Follow the provider’s instructions to finalize the subscription.
- Practical tips for reducing energy bills for your second home
In addition to getting the right contract, here are some tips to limit energy costs:
- Insulation of windows and doors: Good insulation reduces heating and cooling requirements.
- Use LED bulbs: They use up to 80% less energy than conventional bulbs.
- Unplug devices in standby: Even in standby, devices consume energy. Remember to unplug them.
