QUALITATIVE STUDY 2026

Why Energy Customers Really Switch — and What Keeps Them

The most comprehensive qualitative study on switching behaviour in the German energy market. Over 1,000 customers surveyed via AI-powered voice interviews.

1,000+
Customers Interviewed
5,000+
Opinions Captured
6
Customer Segments
9
Hypotheses Tested

About this Study

Traditional market research captures market shifts retrospectively. This study takes a different approach: using Volto's proprietary Qualitative at Scale methodology, we conducted in-depth voice interviews with over 1,000 energy customers across Germany.

The result is an unprecedented level of detail into what really drives switching decisions — and what keeps customers loyal. Six distinct customer segments emerge, each with fundamentally different motivations, pain points, and loyalty triggers.

Every finding is backed by real data, validated hypotheses, and quantitative weighting. No synthetic data, no assumptions — only genuine customer voices.

Key Findings

41.5%have switching potential
67%name trust breach as switching trigger
61%reject the discount-hunter myth

Table of Contents

  • 01
    Segments
    Six customer types that couldn't be more different
  • 02
    Price
    The most common reason — but not the whole truth
  • 03
    Trust
    The moment when trust breaks
  • 04
    Myths
    Two myths that don't hold up to reality
  • 05
    Drivers
    What really drives loyalty and switching
  • 06
    Actions
    The four-factor strategy for your business
Agentic Customer Intelligence