Many consumers are currently being informed of new energy prices. At the same time, the state price brakes are coming. You can use the energy price calculator from the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center to find out how the new deduction should be calculated.
Many energy providers are announcing the new increased price and at the same time a correspondingly increased monthly discount. How the new price brakes will affect the level of deductions for electricity, gas and district heating can now be determined by households with direct contracts using a new online calculator from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center.
Example of electricity: “Anyone who received a price increase at the turn of the year and now has to pay higher deductions should know that the deductions will in many cases be lower again from March,” explained Christina Wallraf, the energy market expert at the NRW consumer advice center. “Because those who currently have to pay more than 40 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity benefit from the price brake.” High discounts would initially be due for January and February, since the price brakes only reduced the discounts from March.
“However, the price brakes also apply retrospectively to January and February,” she emphasized. Households would then be credited with the relief for the first two months in March, for example. The price brakes are effective for the whole of 2023. According to the law, an extension until April 2024 is possible.
In order to use the calculator to determine future electricity discounts, for example, consumers must know the current gross energy price, the basic price and the annual consumption forecast. According to the consumer advice center, energy providers must communicate the new deductions and the relief from the price brake by the end of February at the latest.
While direct customers benefit from lower deductions, tenants usually receive the savings for gas and district heating with the utility bill. In addition, a number of additional costs, for example for maintenance, are also listed here, which also makes it difficult to understand the consequences of increased gas prices. If in doubt, those affected should contact their consumer advice center with a heating bill from the landlord and ask how the increased gas price affects it and what deductions are appropriate. Another calculator from the consumer advice center can also provide a rough guide, with which the effects of suspected cost increases can be calculated.
