Overview
- An analysis of more than 70 companies found 12 basic-supply providers priced at least 20% above the September 2024 average, benchmarked at €1,456 for 15,000 kWh.
- The Wirtschaftministerium says talks with the companies will start in October and failure to resolve concerns could prompt cartel administrative proceedings.
- Flagged firms include EWE Vertrieb and Stadtwerke Schneverdingen, with Stadtwerke Northeim ranked third most expensive; Gasversorgung im Landkreis Gifhorn was the cheapest and Harz Energie ranked 13th.
- Stadtwerke Northeim’s chief said the ranking was surprising, pledged a data review, and noted a roughly 30% price cut effective January 1, 2025, while EWE argued it acted properly and passed market declines to customers within three months.
- The study reports a sharp widening in price gaps during the energy crisis, and basic-supply enrollment in Lower Saxony swung from about 620,000 customers in 2022 to 800,000 in 2023 and 520,000 in 2024.