Since the liberalization of the EU energy markets, more companies have set up as energy providers and compete largely on the basis of price. As such, most pare back on anything that pushes prices up. This means that most have cut back significantly on their physical presence so that customers can only access support online or via a telephone hotline. An exception is Armex Energy s.a. in the Czech Republic. A key part of its strategy is setting up a network of customer contact points to ensure that it does not leave its customers in the cold while keeping them warm.