gas surcharge
Consumer advocate Pop: “Many people are desperate”
Ramona Pop, Chairwoman of the Consumer Center of the Federal Association (vzbv) in a dpa interview. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
The gas surcharge is coming – and it is only part of the expected increases in energy prices. How are consumers reacting?
Because of the energy price crisis, consumers seek advice from advice centers far more frequently than before. “Many people are desperate,” said the chairwoman of the Federal Association of Consumers, Ramona Pop, of the German Press Agency in Berlin. “They ask: How are you supposed to actually get through this fall and winter?”
There are many more inquiries than before the crisis in the energy advice of the consumer centers. Complaints about gas have increased sevenfold compared to the previous year, and tripled about electricity, Pop said.
The gas surcharge will be a small part of the price increase. “But with the utility bills in the spring, the big bill comes first,” said Pop. “This is likely to have a very negative impact on consumers and will unfortunately not remain a one-off event, because energy prices are likely to remain high in the years to come.”
Not without relief
Pop reiterated her demand for short-term relief as part of the levy. This should not be due without discharge. “A new relief package must come in the fall,” Pop demanded. “Especially for people with low incomes, the last few months have been a burden – and some relief such as the 9-euro ticket are already running out again.” The federal government should not argue about what relief might come, and at the same time let the surcharge take full effect.
“The major reforms in housing benefit and citizen benefit will not come until 2023,” said the consumer advocate. “It’s good when these structural improvements come. But then temporary solutions are needed in the fall.” People with low incomes should be relieved in a targeted manner. “The issue of heating costs should be addressed. Because the heating season will start soon. And there are signs of significantly higher deductions.”
Help quickly when needed
Since rising energy prices threaten to have a negative impact on the middle class, far-reaching relief would be desirable from Pop’s point of view. “But the finance minister has let it be known that, from his point of view, little is affordable.” It is all the more important to help those with the greatest need quickly.
Pop criticized the concerted action launched by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) with employers and unions. “I doubt whether the concerted action is the right place to talk about far-reaching measures, because only a very small group is involved,” she said. “Consumer protection, for example, is not represented, nor are other associations.” It is regrettable that the federal government did not seek a more comprehensive forum to discuss measures more broadly. Pop referred to crisis meetings in some countries to save energy or support measures. “We’re still waiting for an invitation from the federal government.”
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