Consumer Protection Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) has announced a moratorium on electricity and gas cuts in the event of a further increase in energy prices. According to the minister, it should not be the case that customers are cut off from electricity or gas if they are in arrears with payments.
Consumer Protection Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) believes that a moratorium on electricity and gas cuts is necessary in the event of a further escalation of the energy crisis with significantly higher prices. “It can happen that in the event of an absolute crisis, the Federal Network Agency allows energy companies to pass on increased prices to consumers despite a price guarantee,” Lemke told the “Bild am Sonntag”. If that were to happen, a moratorium on power and gas cuts would be needed.
On the one hand, it must be ensured that the suppliers can maintain the energy supply in the country, said Lemke. “And on the other hand, in such a crisis situation, nobody should have their electricity or gas cut off because they are in arrears with a bill.”
The gas supply is currently secured, but one has to be prepared for “difficult times” in winter, when consumers need special protection.
Therefore, the federal government has determined “that energy companies must inform their customers three months in advance if they want to stop supplying energy”. This prevents a situation like last winter, when cheap electricity providers simply stopped delivering in rows.
