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According to a media report, the federal government wants to ban price increases for electricity and gas
Photo: IMAGO/Florian Gaertner/photothek.de / IMAGO/photothek
According to a newspaper report, the federal government wants to generally prohibit electricity and gas suppliers from increasing prices for 2023.
This emerges from the draft law on price brakes passed by the cabinet, reports the “Bild” newspaper on Saturday.
Hundreds of increases that have already been decided at the turn of the year are therefore illegal.
In the event of a dispute, the supplier would have to prove to the Federal Cartel Office that the stock market prices justify the increase, the newspaper reports, citing a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics.
As long as the supplier cannot do this, the increase remains prohibited.
The background is the claim for reimbursement that arises for gas suppliers from the energy price brakes decided by the government against the state.
"As a result, abuse must be ruled out," said the energy policy spokeswoman for the SPD, Nina Scheer, of the "Bild".
The spokesman for energy policy for the FDP parliamentary group, Michael Kruse, said: "We want to prevent free-rider effects that encourage utility companies to pay higher tariffs."
Around 7.5 million households are affected by massive increases in electricity costs
Referring to figures from the consumer portal Check24, "Bild" reports that there will be massive price increases as of January 1: 457 gas suppliers are planning an average increase of 56 percent, which would affect 3.6 million households.
636 electricity suppliers planned increases by an average of 60 percent for 7.5 million households.
"Consumers may withhold payment of the increase," said the head of the Federation of Energy Consumers, Leonora Holling, the newspaper.
The planned increases are not in proportion to the price development on the stock exchange.
»We advise consumers to file an objection.«
tfb/AFP