2023-05-07 12:14:37
High energy prices are causing problems for consumers. Many seek professional debt counseling when the power is cut off. According to consultants, there is currently a chance for a breather.
According to debt counselors, defaulting electricity customers are currently less affected by the blocking of energy suppliers. The electricity price brake and its consequences tie up a lot of capacity in companies, as Ines Moers, Managing Director of the Federal Working Group for Debt Counselling, told the German Press Agency in Freiburg.
“There aren’t that many power cuts anymore. That’s what many of the debt counselors tell us,” Moers summed up. The decline has been observed for about half a year. Board member Eva Müffelmann spoke of limited receivables management by the suppliers. The electricity and gas price brakes were introduced in March. They are financed from a special fund of up to 200 billion euros from the federal government.
When asked in Berlin, the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management reported that it had no information on the number of power cuts. As reported by the Federal Network Agency, there were around 235,000 power cuts in the year before last, which was an increase of two percent. Figures for the past year are not yet available, as the authority announced on request.
The energy supply to end customers can only be discontinued under certain conditions. According to the consumer advice center, a supplier can disconnect electricity or gas if the payment arrears reach twice the monthly payment or the monthly advance payment.
Because of the high energy prices, consumers in Germany are increasingly looking for help from debt counseling services. Around 600,000 people are advised nationwide every year. (dpa)
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