Enlarge image
Electricity meter: “Long dispute avoided”
Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa
The two electricity providers Primastrom and Voxenergie have agreed to reimburse their customers as part of an out-of-court settlement with the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv).
According to vzbv, the companies committed themselves to withdrawing the price increases and refunding any credits in full for the approximately 1,600 consumers who took part in the model declaratory actions.
The consumer advice center then withdrew its lawsuit against inadmissible price increases before the Berlin Court of Appeal.
Customers involved in the lawsuits should – if they have not already done so – receive refunds “in these days,” explained the vzbv.
In some cases there is talk of “impressive” amounts in the four-digit range; in one case, a consumer received 5,500 euros back.
The settlements resulted in a good result, explained vzbv board member Ramona Pop: “A long legal dispute could be avoided here.”
In October 2022, the vzbv filed two model declaratory actions against Primastrom and Voxenergie due to inadmissible price increases.
The consumer advocates said they took action after hundreds of complaints.
From 2021 onwards, the two providers are said to have more than tripled electricity prices and sometimes even increased gas prices ninefold.
mamk/AFP