What is now coming to the gas customers of the Tölzer Stadtwerke

Created: 08/10/2022, 18:00

By: Andreas Steppan

An expensive commodity: in 2023, customers of the Tölzer Stadtwerke will face a gas price increase.

The annual accounts for 2022, on the other hand, should still be light.

© Patrick Pleul

The federal government has abolished the gas surcharge and instead announced a gas price brake.

But what does all this mean for the account of the individual?

The Stadtwerke Bad Tölz provide answers for their customers - as far as possible at the moment.

Bad Tölz -

The telephones are running hot in the customer service of the Tölzer Stadtwerke.

Stadtwerke spokeswoman Martina Geisberger reports that they also inquire by e-mail and in person at the company's headquarters on Osterleite how things are going in terms of gas prices.

Although the employees - they also look after the customers of "17er Oberlandenergie" - do their best, there are waiting times, says Geisberger.

In many questions, the municipal utilities themselves would still be hanging in the air.

According to a press release, however, Sales Manager Michael Betzl is currently able to make a statement: "The good news is that our customers do not have to expect an additional payment for 2022." On the contrary, it is possible that most customers will even get something back with the annual statement.

There are various topics that are currently raising questions:

Michael Betzl is the sales manager of Stadtwerke.

© Stadtwerke

O Cancellation of the gas surcharge:

"We're sitting between the chairs right now," explains Betzl.

"So far, the Bundestag has decided that of the three gas surcharges - namely the gas procurement, the gas storage and the balancing levy - only the gas procurement levy will be withdrawn with effect from October 1st." not change the decision.

"Of course, we will calculate the share for the gas procurement levy that has been raised and no longer applied retrospectively back to the customer and reimburse it in the annual statement," promises Betzl.

O Gas price brake:

"We can't say anything about the gas price brake because it's still being discussed in politics," the sales manager clarifies.

"The decision about this must now be made quickly so that it can be implemented at all this year."

O Reduction of VAT on gas and district heating:

In this respect, too, the Stadtwerke cannot act.

The Federal Council approved the bill on Friday.

Now this decision still has to be formulated into a law with legal certainty and published.

"In any case, we will pass on the full amount of the reduction in VAT to our customers," assures Betzl.

It is also still unclear whether and in which cases the VAT reduction will even apply retrospectively for the whole of 2022.

O Annual accounts 2022:

In the latter case – according to Betzl it is “probable” – Stadtwerke could refund part of the VAT on gas to customers for the whole of 2022.

Due to the abolition of the EEG levy, a refund to customers can also be expected for the electricity bill.

The basis for this is that Stadtwerke "as one of the few suppliers in Germany", according to Betzl, kept electricity and gas prices low for customers in 2022 - "due to our long-term and sustainable purchasing strategy".

also read

Michaela Gerg is suing pension insurance - it's about a whopping sum

Drama in the Bavarian Alps: Experienced mountaineer falls 200 meters to his death in the best weather

O How is it going?

"For 2023 we can no longer avoid adjusting the prices according to our procurement costs," announces Betzl.

In mid-November, Stadtwerke customers would receive individual price notifications for gas, electricity and local heating.

Betzl promises that the public utilities will "calculate with a very sharp pencil".

As a regional energy supplier and municipal utility, the company is "not geared towards maximizing profits".

O A letter to gas customers

The letter, which contained estimates of consumption and costs, caused confusion in mid-September.

According to Betzl, the Stadtwerke had to send this letter due to legal requirements, "to our displeasure, forced with basic service prices as of September 1st".

For the individual, this letter has “little meaningfulness”.

In customer service, however, it led to "enormous queries".

(Our Bad Tölz newsletter keeps you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region. Register here.)