Düsseldorf (dpa) – The consumer advice centers advise electricity and gas customers to consider changing providers because of the additional costs announced for 2024. “Consumers should definitely check a tariff portal to see how much savings they could save,” said energy expert at the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center, Christina Wallraf, to the German Press Agency.
For electricity and gas, the price brakes, which cap the price of a large part of consumption above a certain level, will expire at the end of the year. Grid fees for electricity are also rising. For gas, the CO2 tax increases at the beginning of the year. In addition, the VAT reduction for gas will no longer apply on March 1st. Natural gas will then be taxed at 19 percent instead of seven. The wholesale prices for electricity and gas, which have now fallen again, provide some compensation. Many providers have therefore announced price reductions at the turn of the year.
“Households should check: How much am I paying at the moment? What notice period do I have? How long does my contract still run for?” said Wallraf. If you are satisfied with your current provider, you can inquire about other tariffs there and, if necessary, switch to a cheaper tariff.
For new contracts, the consumer advice center recommends a term of 12 months. “This is a good average between planning security and flexibility,” says the expert. With bonus tariffs, consumers should look at the conditions under which the bonus is paid out. Consumers should also be careful not to end up with a dubious provider. Households could, for example, do an internet search to find out whether there have been problems with a provider in the past.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:231223-99-392810/2
2023-12-23 17:45:38
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