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Electricity meters in private households: To be on the safe side, consumers should now write down the meter readings
Photo: Patrick Pleul / dpa
The federal cabinet has officially abolished the controversial gas surcharge.
The surcharge of 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour for all gas customers was supposed to come into effect on October 1, but was "entirely overridden" on Friday.
In addition, the Bundestag decided on Friday that the tax rate for natural gas and district heating will be reduced from 19 to 7 percent from October to March 2024.
Consumer advocates believe that many of the advance payments to landlords and suppliers that have increased because of the energy crisis are now probably too high.
Udo Sieverding, energy expert at the consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia, advises now to write down the meter readings for electricity and gas in order to be able to claim back excessive payments if necessary.
Otherwise, one should be patient and wait for the corresponding letter from the suppliers, he told the editorial network Germany (RND).
"Customers who have received price adjustment letters from their energy suppliers do not have to take action," said Kerstin Andreae, head of the energy umbrella association BDEW, the RND.
The increased deductions due to the levy are offset against the actual costs in the annual accounts, the gas procurement levy does not appear on the annual accounts and is also not calculated.
“No gas customer will have to pay the gas procurement levy, even if it is included in the current deduction to be paid.”
vet/AFP