Many consumers are currently being informed of new energy prices. At the same time, the state price brakes are launched. However, some suppliers cannot hold back and are making excessive demands for gas, electricity and heat in March, as consumer advice centers warn.
Life has become expensive, which is mainly due to high energy costs. The federal government wants to save citizens even worse with price brakes for gas, district heating and electricity. These will exist from March 2023 and until the end of April 2024. However, they apply retrospectively for the months of January and February. The state caps the energy price for 80 percent of the previous year's consumption - for gas to 12 cents, for electricity to 40 cents, each per kilowatt hour. Any additional consumption will be billed at the working price of the current gas or electricity tariff.
Many energy providers are announcing the new increased price and at the same time a correspondingly increased monthly discount. At the same time, there are first indications from the consumer advice centers that the March discounts are completely excessive. In individual cases, consumers report discounts of 1000 euros and more for heat and gas. The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (VZBV) recommends checking both the information letter and the new deductions carefully and calls for problems to be reported at Verbraucherzentrale.de.
"The energy price brakes are intended to relieve the burden on citizens. It is all the more annoying that some providers are obviously trying to collect and push through completely excessive deductions. The VZBV will examine this and take action against rip-offs and any illegal practices. Consumers should be vigilant and discuss their problems report our appeal to consumers online or get advice directly from the consumer centers," says VZBV board member Ramona Pop.
Despite the price brakes, consumer advocates continue to recommend saving energy. After all, the price brakes cap only 80 percent of the consumption of gas, district heating and electricity, compared to the consumption of the previous year. Saving energy thus helps to save money and is also important for security of supply next winter.
How the new price brakes will affect the amount 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. In order to use the calculator to determine future electricity discounts, for example, you have to 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.
