Class action lawsuits filed against Eon and Hansewerk Natur due to sharp price increases

Class action lawsuits filed against Eon and Hansewerk Natur due to sharp price increases

By initiating class action lawsuits against the district heating providers Eon and Hansewerk Natur by the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv), direct refunds for affected consumers are to be sought. The sharp price increases for district heating, especially by more than 100 percent in some areas, have led to the vzbv accusing the companies of disregarding the legal requirements for these enormous and non-transparent price increases. According to vzbv, both utility companies have drastically increased their prices since 2021, in some cases almost quadrupling them. The lawsuits were filed with the higher regional courts in Hamm and Schleswig. According to vzbv boss Ramona Pop, the district heating market in Germany lacks competition, freedom of choice and price transparency, which disadvantages consumers and prevents them from switching to another provider.

In this context, it is important to analyze what impact the price increases and the legal actions initiated could have on the market and consumers. One possibility is that if the lawsuits are successful, pressure will increase on other district heating providers to make price increases more transparent and strengthen consumer-friendly aspects. On the other hand, possible court decisions could also have an impact on the calculation and price structure of district heating prices overall. This, in turn, could lead to greater price transparency and competitive advantages for consumers.

According to a report by www.faz.net,