The gas, heat and electricity price brake has been in effect since March 1, 2023.
However, the consumer advice centers are already warning of excessive deductions.
Berlin – The price brakes for gas, heat and electricity are intended to relieve consumers in Germany.
Energy prices rose significantly, particularly as a result of the war in Ukraine.
At the start of the price brakes, the consumer advice centers warn against excessive deductions.
Start price brakes for electricity, heat and gas - warn consumer centers
On March 1, 2023, the price brakes for gas, heat and electricity announced by the federal government started.
At the same time, many energy providers changed their prices - there were price reductions, but consumers often have to pay more than before.
The aim of the price brakes is to relieve consumers in Germany.
This had become necessary because the prices for food, electricity, gas and heat had suddenly risen as a result of the war in Ukraine.
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The consumer advice center warns of "completely excessive deductions" for electricity and gas.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa/imago/Montage
As the consumer advice centers announced on March 1, 2023, they received notices of significantly excessive March discounts.
So do the reduced prices not reach the consumer at all?
Occasionally deductions of 1000 euros are said to have been debited.
The Federal Association of Consumers (vzbv) is therefore calling for the new deductions to be checked carefully and discrepancies to be reported or discussed with the energy provider.
In many cases, switching providers can be worthwhile.
Consumer centers criticize “providers who obviously cash in”
The energy prices for consumers should actually fall when the price brakes start - but that is not the case everywhere: "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 cash in and push through completely excessive deductions," said vzbv board member Ramona Pop.
She also strongly advises consumers to report any problems and to keep an eye on the deductions for gas, heat and electricity.
Average relief amounts for basic suppliers by federal state:
Federal State | ⌀ Relief with electricity | ⌀ Gas relief |
|---|---|---|
Baden-Wuerttemberg | 117 euros/year | 672 euros/year |
Bavaria | 177 euros/year | 744 euros/year |
Berlin | 45 euros/year | 1230 euros/year |
Brandenburg | 403 euros/year | 878 euros/year |
Bremen | 26 euros/year | 140 euros/year |
Hamburg | 92 euros/year | 392 euros/year |
Hesse | 209 euros/year | 646 euros/year |
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 359 euros/year | 751 euros/year |
Lower Saxony | 169 euros/year | 516 euros/year |
North Rhine-Westphalia | 157 euros/year | 750 euros/year |
Rhineland-Palatinate | 116 euros/year | 703 euros/year |
Saarland | 336 euros/year | 712 euros/year |
Saxony | 184 euros/year | 763 euros/year |
Saxony-Anhalt | 311 euros/year | 947 euros/year |
Schleswig Holstein | 447 euros/year | 510 euros/year |
Thuringia | 376 euros/year | 938 euros/year |
The price brakes for gas, heat and electricity did not come into force until March 1, 2023, but are already in effect for January and February of the same year.
The vzbv wants to take action against possible rip-offs by the energy suppliers and calls on them to "refund the relief to their customers by the end of March." At the same time, the vzbv warns consumers against stopping saving energy.
"After all, the price brakes only cover 80 percent of consumption for gas, district heating and electricity."
List of rubrics: © Sina Schuldt/dpa/imago/Montage