Companies overloaded – application lost: Steirer suddenly without heating

Since the explosion of energy prices, more and more people are taking advantage of the option of basic supply, which until recently was completely unknown but legally controversial: you have the right to purchase electricity and gas at a “reasonable average price”, which is usually below current market rates.

A Styrian from the Graz-Umwelt district also requested basic gas supplies from Verbund three weeks before his old contract with another supplier expired. He received a confirmation email with a ticket number and when asked was told the application would be processed within a maximum of 14 days, the man told the “Krone”.

Waiting period: at least six weeks
But then happened: nothing. At the third call, it was suddenly said that the application could not be found – and the waiting time was at least six weeks! The E-Control disputes committee also spoke of a waiting period of weeks, if not months.

“Had no heating and no hot water”
The old contract expired on 5 March and E-Netze-Steiermark removed the gas meter a day later. “We had no heating and no hot water!” According to Energie Steiermark, everything is legal: you are legally obliged to dismantle the meter as soon as there is no valid supply contract, “to prevent improper use”.

The Styrian had to quickly sign a normal contract with another provider. For consumer lawyer Peter Kolba of the VSV, who advised and supported the Styrian, the case shows how overloaded the customer centers of many energy companies are at the moment.