As of: March 26, 2024, 8:10 a.m
By: Max Schäfer
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The price of electricity has normalized – actually.
For some households, the price reduction does not go down well.
Two experts blame consumers.
Munich – The electricity price for new private customers has more than halved since the peak of the energy crisis in 2022.
While consumers had to pay 70 cents per kilowatt hour at the end of September 2022, the price for new customers is currently around 26 cents.
The wholesale price is 24.8 cents.
However, for many households this doesn't work.
On the contrary, some consumers could pay more for electricity again.
But they are responsible for it themselves.
Two experts are convinced of this.
“As long as people pay these high prices and don’t complain, they will continue to exist,” said Mathias Mier, energy economist at the Ifo Institute.
“How much is currently being paid for electricity depends on consumers’ willingness to switch,” explained Verivox boss Daniel Puschmann in an interview with
Wirtschaftswoche
.
Expert sees “energy illiteracy” among electricity customers
According to Puschmann, only ten percent of Germans change their electricity supply contract every year.
Many households instead paid for their old, more expensive contracts.
Ifo energy expert Mier is convinced that this is because many consumers do not even know that they can change their contracts.
“If consumers react completely inelastically to market conditions, the electricity company can fleece them endlessly.” According to
Wirtschaftswoche,
Mier speaks of “energy illiteracy”.
According to two experts, by switching providers, consumers can send signals to providers so that the price of electricity falls.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
Puschmann is convinced that it is important for the electricity price level that consumers exercise their options for switching and give signals to companies.
He recommends comparing tariffs online - which the head of a comparison portal also has his own interest in.
Verivox receives a commission for new customers referred to partner companies.
Consumers should change their tariff to combat rising prices – says expert
“Depending on which tariff the customer is on and when it was taken out, the change is worth it,” said Puschmann to
Wirtschaftswoche
.
At the same time, he reassures consumers who are afraid of being burdened by a change: “It is unlikely that the market will change so quickly and that six months later the electricity customer will be paying the most expensive tariff again.”
The
consumer advice center
explains the following about possible rising electricity costs: “The market situation is currently relaxed.
Even without a price guarantee, you don't have to accept price increases.
If prices change, you always have a special right of termination.” Consumer advocates recommend considering changing providers if there is a possible increase and also suggest tariff portals.
They offer the best overview, but customers should change the filter settings so that, for example, not only tariffs that can be switched to on the portal are displayed.
Consumers should also compare the prices and conditions again with the provider’s official information on their website.
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