Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - In view of the sharp rise in prices for electricity and gas, the Hesse consumer advice center has called for a legal ban on energy cuts. Many households could no longer shoulder the high costs, said Philipp Wendt, head of the Hesse consumer advice center, on Tuesday. That is why we are calling on federal politicians to ban energy cutoffs for the period in which the alarm level of the gas emergency plan is in force. The regulation must be implemented by September of this year at the latest. "The risk of people sitting without electricity and gas in the fall is great," said Wendt. A household with a arrears of two installment payments and debts of one hundred euros is threatened with an energy blackout.
Due to the current development, the consumer advice center warned energy customers against prematurely changing energy providers from the existing tariff. In view of the tense situation on the energy markets, it is currently very difficult for consumers to find attractive electricity and gas tariffs. Rising prices must be expected everywhere. Should the new price adjustment right be applied after the Federal Network Agency has determined a significant reduction in gas import volumes, the suppliers are likely to pass on the increased procurement costs. "Private households would then not be protected from extremely high gas prices," warned Peter Lassek, head of the consumer law section at the Hesse consumer advice center. Contracts with a price guarantee would also be affected.
The consumer advice center Hessen is also committed to the regulation of advertising aimed at children for foods with a high sugar, fat and salt content. 15 percent of children and young people in Germany are overweight or obese, and the problems have worsened during the pandemic. The regulation should extend to all channels and all advertising formats, demanded Wiebke Franz, an expert on food and nutrition at the consumer advice center in Hesse.
