Eon rip-off: Financial experts are examining class action lawsuits over price increases

Eon rip-off: Financial experts are examining class action lawsuits over price increases

According to a report by Merkur.de, the energy supplier Eon has drastically increased its prices for district heating between 2020 and 2022. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) is now examining a model lawsuit against Eon and is looking for affected consumers who would like to file a lawsuit. The price increases are viewed as illegal and consumer advocates warn of rip-offs by Eon.

The impact of these price increases can be serious. Millions of households in Germany heat with district heating and are now confronted with excessive costs. An example: In the Hamburg-Lohbrügge supply area, the net labor price rose from 3.79 cents in 2020 to 17.20 cents per kWh in 2022. This means prices have quadrupled and, with an annual consumption of 15,000 kWh, can cause additional gross costs of over 3,000 euros per year.

The consumer advice centers see Eon's price increases as a violation of applicable law. The energy supplier relies on clauses in the contract that allow the price to be changed. However, consumer advice centers consider these clauses to be unlawful. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations is therefore now examining a model declaratory action and is looking for those affected in order to reclaim the excessive deductions through a class action lawsuit.

Eon's price increases are part of a larger trend in the energy sector. Since 2022, the prices for electricity, gas and district heating have risen significantly. Despite the price caps for electricity and gas introduced by the federal government, energy companies sometimes charge discounts in the four-digit range.

The impact of these price increases is significant for consumers. You have to expect significantly higher costs for district heating, which leads to financial strain. The district heating market will be affected by Eon's price increases and could cause negative sentiment among customers.

Source: According to a report from www.merkur.de