Local basic suppliers are increasingly adjusting their tariffs to the falling prices on the energy exchanges. According to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, however, the price level for electricity and gas remains high.
According to a report, the falling prices on the energy exchanges are now also affecting the electricity and gas customers of the local default suppliers. As the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reports, citing figures from the comparison portal Verivox, a total of 91 electricity and 80 gas companies reduced their tariffs in May, June and July. Electricity will be around 14 percent cheaper on average, and gas around 23 percent.
The record prices of the energy crisis are over, according to the information. Overall, however, “the price level remains high”. According to Verivox, almost 80 percent of all electricity and almost 90 percent of all gas tariffs in the basic supply are above the price brakes.
Savings possible by switching
The price brakes were introduced because of the massive rise in prices for energy products – they have been in effect since March and retrospectively for January and February. The price cap for electricity is 40 cents per kilowatt hour and for gas it is 12 cents per kilowatt hour.
According to the information, the prices of national suppliers are often well below the price brakes. Verivox energy expert Thorsten Storck told the newspaper that “by switching from the basic supply, a household can save on average more than 500 euros in electricity and more than 600 euros in gas”.
Don’t just look at the price
According to the newspaper, consumer advocates warn against only looking at the cheapest providers. Especially with so-called energy discounters, there were always problems during the energy crisis, said Hans Weinreuter, energy expert at the consumer center Rhineland-Palatinate, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The consumer advice center can give consumers information about “which companies have become conspicuous in the past”.