After the termination of electricity supply contracts by providers such as Stromio, consumer advocates sharply criticize the high price surcharges from basic suppliers for new customers. "The unilateral termination of the contract by Stromio and the delayed notification to those affected is scandalous from the point of view of the consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia," said the latter on Thursday. The households would not be without energy, but would automatically slip into the substitute supply of the municipal energy provider. But some basic suppliers are now demanding electricity prices from new customers that are many times higher than those of existing customers.
In the wake of the price explosion for electricity and gas, several providers have terminated their supply contracts to customers in recent weeks.
In the case of Stromio alone, consumer advocates speak of several hundred thousand households affected.
According to the comparison portal Check24, around 260 basic providers have introduced new tariffs exclusively for new customers.
Here the prices have been increased by an average of 105.8 percent, which leads to additional costs of 1735 euros per year.
Punishing unfaithful customers?
“The division of the basic supply into new and existing customers clearly contradicts our understanding of the free market and the liberalization of the energy market.
We criticize any punishment or harassment of customers who have changed their provider “, said the board of directors of the consumer center in North Rhine-Westphalia, Wolfgang Schuldzinski.
This cannot be justified with the increased procurement costs alone.
"Here the suspicion is that those affected should be punished who have turned their backs on the basic suppliers in the past." January 2022 had fallen significantly.