The prices are rising. Almost everyone can feel this in everyday life. The increases in electricity and gas are particularly strong. But what can be done about it?
Many electricity and gas customers are currently caught off guard when their supplier informs them of hefty price increases. It doesn’t matter whether it’s basic service or a special tariff: the prices almost always skyrocket. But consumers don’t just have to accept it.
Because anyone who is confronted with a price increase in their electricity or gas tariff usually has a special right of termination. “The contract can then be terminated at the time when the price increase comes into force,” says Udo Sieverding, head of the energy department at the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center.
So if the prices rise around January 1st, those affected can cancel until December 31st. The notice of termination must have been received by the supplier by this time. Suppliers must provide information about price increases at least one month before the increase occurs.
Then what is the alternative? Maybe another provider. Price comparisons can help to identify cheaper competitors – for example on common comparison portals on the Internet. But beware: the basic service tariff is not always to be found there, if in doubt you have to look for it separately.
In regions where the basic supply is cheaper than the special tariffs, electricity and gas customers should consider opting for the basic supply, advises consumer advocate Sieverding. However: The expert estimates that the prices in the basic service will continue to rise sooner or later and adjust to the level of the special contracts. “In some tariff areas, this will already be a reality at the turn of the year.”
Sieverding sees the reason for this not only in increased procurement costs. “There is a suspicion that some energy supply companies will use the price brakes – and the associated inhibition of competition – from January to push through excessive price increases,” says the consumer advocate. In his estimation, some basic suppliers allowed themselves a larger risk margin, while others increased prices only moderately.
The problem: they cannot determine for themselves whether the labor prices that end users are supposed to pay are reasonable or not. According to Sieverding, the Federal Ministry of Economics and the Federal Cartel Office have their sights set on such abuses with excessive risk margins and want to limit them, even retrospectively if necessary.
In cases where end customers actually paid excessive energy prices, overcharged costs would be reimbursed automatically. At least that’s what Sieverding is assuming. He therefore recommends that consumers wait and see. He thinks little of the recommendation to lodge an objection as a person affected and to make payments subject to reservation. “We should spare customers and suppliers this bureaucracy.”
Sieverding assumes that the sometimes drastic price increases at the turn of the year will have peaked. The question is rather how long the tariffs will remain at this high level. “It could stay like this for two years, but if the weather, world politics and the competition cooperate, it can go down again next summer.”
