Has your gas supplier calculated the correct VAT rate? Has the gas levy been calculated incorrectly? You will find the answers in the statement.
Gas surcharge, VAT reduction and soon a gas price brake: the political back and forth about gas prices sometimes causes confusion among consumers. In order to be able to check the down payment and the annual statement for accuracy, you should definitely keep an eye on things. These questions and answers will help.
What applies now?
The gas procurement levy was overturned shortly before it was scheduled to come into force on October 1st. They are spared the approximately 2.4 cents that consumers would have had to shell out more for gas per kilowatt hour. Instead, a reduced VAT rate on gas and district heating of 7 instead of 19 percent has been in effect since October 1st - until the end of March 2024. This is intended to relieve the population. What is not yet clear: how exactly and when a gas price brake should take effect.
What should I do if the incorrect VAT rate or the abolished levy appears on my statement?
According to the magazine "Finanztest" (11/2022), consumers do not have to do anything at first. Utilities would have to correct incorrectly charged VAT rates and allocations in the annual statement at the latest and pay them back accordingly.
How is the one-off payment due to the gas price brake supposed to work?
According to the proposal of the Federal Government's Gas and Heat Expert Commission, gas customers should receive a special payment in the amount of a monthly gas bill this year. The Commission has proposed using past values as a guide "so that consumption is not strategically driven up". The one-time payment is to be determined on the basis of the consumption on which the advance payment in September was based. The suppliers should therefore waive the down payment for December for practically all household and commercial customers and have it reimbursed by the state. As usual, the property management must also determine the deductions and divide the grants. The gas customer himself would not have to do anything.
Are my current down payments reasonable?
In the course of the increased gas prices, the advance payments were adjusted for many customers. If you want to check whether your contributions have been adjusted correctly, you can use the energy price calculator from the consumer advice center, for example. In order to get a well-founded result, the computer must be fed with the following input data: previous and new energy and basic price, annual consumption and, if applicable, the metering fee.
Suppliers usually provide information about the current gross price, otherwise you can ask them there. The other data can be found in the last annual statement, for example.
According to the NRW consumer advice center, households who find that the new deduction amount has not been shown correctly should contact their energy supplier. There you can request an adjustment of the deduction amount.
When can the supplier turn off my gas?
"A lock only comes if a household is in arrears with two monthly payments that are higher than 100 euros," says the "Finanztest". But even then the gas is not shut off immediately. In the basic service, a lock must be threatened four weeks in advance. In addition, the supplier must state in writing how the interruption can be avoided - for example by paying in installments. "The actual lockdown date must be announced at least eight working days in advance."
What is stated in the general terms and conditions applies to special contracts. According to the Federal Network Agency, the requirements for a block are usually similar to those in the basic service, but the details can differ.
Where can I apply for help if I cannot pay the back payments?
Even people who have not previously been entitled to social benefits can apply for support for their heating bills. This is pointed out by the energy debt advice service at the consumer advice center in Berlin. Those who were usually able to cover their running costs with their income, but are now overwhelmed with hefty additional payments, can have the costs reimbursed in full or in part using the "one-off requirement". The respective job center or district office is responsible.
It is important that the application is made in the month in which the payment is due. Those affected should therefore act quickly and submit the informal application in good time. The office then assesses the need for assistance on an individual basis. This determines the amount of support.
