Gas surcharge: Why consumers should pay attention to their bill now
Created: 01/10/2022 06:31
By: Lisa Mayerhofer
The controversial gas levy is not coming, instead there should be a gas price cap.
But many gas suppliers had already raised prices because of the surcharge.
Berlin – On Thursday, the traffic light coalition announced a new “defense shield” of up to 200 billion euros to support consumers and companies because of rising energy prices.
The controversial gas levy is off the table – there should be a gas price brake for that.
Gas surcharge: Doubts about legal admissibility
The government's new plan is to cap prices for at least part of consumption so that private households and companies are not overwhelmed.
What that means exactly is still unclear.
A commission is to make proposals by mid-October.
The now overturned gas surcharge should actually be paid by private households and companies from October.
The surcharge is intended to support energy companies that are now having to find replacements at horrendous prices due to the supply stop for Russian gas.
Since the nationalization of the Uniper Group last week, there have been doubts as to whether the levy is still constitutionally permissible.
Abolition of the gas levy: what does that mean for consumers?
But what does that mean in concrete terms for consumers?
In any case, it is advisable to check the gas bill carefully.
This is especially true if the gas suppliers have recently raised prices and justified this with the gas surcharge.
Because this price increase is now invalid because it includes a gas levy that is no longer valid.
Anyone affected by this should file an objection immediately and request a recalculation.
In addition, the providers now have to adjust their tariffs again and inform their customers about this.
(lma/AFP/dpa)