No light, no refrigerator, no heating – a scenario that no one wants to find themselves in. However, with prices rising, this is increasingly becoming a reality. Because if energy costs can no longer be paid, there is a risk that the supplier will be blocked. What many people don't know is that certain conditions apply to turning off electricity and gas. The Lower Saxony Consumer Center provides an initial overview and offers support.

“Anyone who fears that they will no longer be able to pay energy bills should definitely seek help immediately and speak to the energy supplier,” says Julia Schröder, energy law expert at the Lower Saxony Consumer Center, and explains: “We are happy to provide free support with our new advisory service. Because preventing an energy blockage is always easier than reversing it.”

Energy suppliers must comply with legal requirements

In addition, a ban is not always legal. “Due to the particular hardship, the legislature has set some conditions and formalities,” says the expert. Only when consumers are in arrears with at least twice their monthly payment or advance payment and the supplier has already issued a reminder for payment can they threaten to block the payment. If no advance payment or advance payment has been agreed, the arrears must amount to at least one sixth of the annual invoice - but in both cases at least 100 euros.

In order to ultimately be able to enforce a threatened ban, further legal requirements must be met. “The energy supplier must again threaten to interrupt the supply four weeks in advance and announce the blockage eight working days in advance by post,” said Schröder. At the same time, he must offer an interest-free installment payment agreement and provide written information about how an interruption can be avoided.

Bans can often be averted

“If the threatened blocking is legal, consideration should be given to accepting the agreement to pay in installments,” says Schröder. However, other solutions are often also conceivable, such as deferring costs. “Those affected should coordinate with their supplier and find alternatives together to prevent a ban. Because blocking and unblocking cause additional costs.”

Demands from the consumer advice center

According to the Lower Saxony consumer advice center, private households should not be left alone in the current situation. The aim is to counteract rising energy debts among consumers and at the same time provide incentives to save energy. She is calling on politicians to suspend energy bans. It is also important that existing aid is paid out quickly and further relief is decided. One possibility would be an energy price cap, i.e. a set maximum price for a certain amount of energy. However, this would have to be significantly below average consumption in order to continue to offer savings incentives.

More information on the subject of energy barriers can be found at www.verbraucherzentrale-niedersachsen.de/strom-gassperre-was-tun .

Article image: Pixabay
Source: Lower Saxony Consumer Center

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