MADRID, 24 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The receipt of natural gas can be up to three times more expensive for users with free market rates compared to those who have contracted the Last Resort Rate (TUR), regulated by the Government, according to a study by Facua-Consumidores in Action.

Specifically, all the offers analyzed by the association in the free market continue to be much higher than the TUR, making the kilowatt hour (kWh) more expensive between 112% and 245%.

Of the offers analyzed by Facua, Repsol's is the most expensive, with a monthly bill of 198.65 euros for a user with a consumption of 9,600 kWh per year, more than triple the 62.95 euros to which their invoice if it had the regulated rate corresponding to households with consumption between 5,000 and 15,000 kWh per year.

Likewise, the association pointed out that several marketers have applied "significant increases" in the price of energy this month, just when the drop in VAT on natural gas from 21 to 5% has come into force.

Thus, he indicated that Endesa has made the kWh more expensive by 19% in the two most common rates for users and TotalEnergies has made it 12.9% in the rate for the lowest consumption and 13.6% in the one that goes from 5,000 to 15,000 kWh per year.

In the case of Naturgy, the increases have been limited to 1.5 and 3.6%, respectively, while Repsol and CHC Energía have not passed on increases.

Meanwhile, Iberdrola has applied a drastic drop, of 25.7% and 24.9%, despite what is positioned this month as the third most expensive marketer.

The analysis of the association includes the offers of Endesa, Naturgy, Iberdrola, Repsol, CHC Energía and TotalEnergies, analyzed on October 21, and compares them with the Last Resort Rates in force since July 1.

Three different rates are offered for natural gas, depending on whether the user consumes less than 5,000 kWh per year, between that amount and 15,000 kWh or more. Facua indicated that he has made the comparison taking the first two profiles as a reference, starting from a user who consumes 400 kWh or 800 kWh per month.

Thus, the association advises consumers on TUR rates, for which they must go to one of the four reference or last-resort marketers, which belong to the same business groups as the large free market companies.

With the TUR, a user who consumes 400 kWh per month currently pays 32.96 euros per month, 8% below the 35.92 euros he paid in September, before the update of the rates and the drop in VAT.

In the free gas market, the user's bill can skyrocket to 98.04 euros, 198% more, in the event that they have contracted the current Repsol offer. After this company, the most expensive with the aforementioned consumption profile are Endesa (86.72 euros) and Iberdrola (80.16 euros).

For a user profile with a consumption of 800 kWh per month, with the corresponding TUR -which applies to consumption between 5,000 and 15,000 kWh per year- pays a monthly bill of 62.95 euros, 7% less than the 67.76 euros that he paid last month.

In the free market, the same user can pay up to 198.65 euros, 216% more, if they have the Repsol offer. After her, the most expensive for this consumption profile are also Endesa (169.94 euros) and Iberdrola (167.07 euros).

All the offers analyzed in the free market are much more expensive than the regulated rate. The lowest, those of CHC Energía and Naturgy, give rise to bills that in the best of cases are 95% more expensive than the TUR.

When reviewing the rates per kWh for users who consume less than 5,000 per year, the highest are those of Repsol (22.81 cents), Endesa (20.06 cents) and Iberdrola (18.58 cents). The differences reach 230% with respect to the 6.92 cents per kWh in force since October 1 with the TUR. The company with the least expensive kWh, CHC Energy, charges it at 15.04 cents, 117% more expensive than with the TUR.

In the case of users who consume between 5,000 and 15,000 kWh per year, the most expensive rates per kWh are again those of Repsol (22.81 cents), Endesa (19.79 cents) and Iberdrola (19.42 cents). Up to 245% above the 6.62 cents/kWh currently paid with the TUR. In the case of the company with the lowest price per kWh in the free market, also CHC Energía (14.04 cents), its price is 112% above that established in the TUR for this consumption profile.