Complaints about energy costs have risen sharply recently, according to consumer organizations, which say they are taking initiatives to celebrate World Consumer Day tomorrow.
The Consumers’ Association Quality of Life notes that “complaints in the energy sector, between September 2021 – February 2022, showed a sharp increase (over 3,000 complaints), is indicative of the situation, while a similar increase is observed in all Consumer Associations – members of the Panhellenic Federation of Consumer Associations (POMEK) “The Intervention” “.
EKPOIZO states that, this year, the World Consumer Day (March 15), is dedicated, for the second consecutive year, to the social good of energy, and, more specifically, “to the right of all of us to have access, at affordable prices, to energy “Our right to have simple, understandable and transparent accounts, free from irrelevant charges.”
He adds that the major social problem is the accuracy, not only in the bills of electricity, gas and other fuels, but also in basic consumer goods and not only.
The factors that sent prices, according to the consumer organization, are much discussed, political-geopolitical and economic, of exogenous and endogenous origin. But, as he notes, what has not been done is to take measures to effectively support consumers. “We believe that the subsidy of a few euros provides some temporary relief but does not address the problem at its root,” the statement said.
The following are also noted:
In our country, the inherent weaknesses and distortions in the operation of various markets (energy, banks, telecommunications, food, etc.) are known and perpetuate phenomena of scandal, lack of competition, unfair and misleading trade practices, opacity in their formation and increase.
The fact that in EKPOIZO the complaints in the energy sector, between September 2021 – February 2022, showed a vertical increase (over 3,000 complaints), is indicative of the situation, while a similar increase is observed in all Consumer Associations – members of the Panhellenic Federation Consumer Associations (POMEK) “The Intervention”.
What about the complaints?
These complaints mainly concern the following:
1. The so-called Adjustment Clause, which when applied leads to exorbitant, unfair, unthinkable and opaque charges that double or triple the cost of kwh.
2. The “Adjustable charges” that are charged to the bills, especially the SGI- Utilities and ETMEAR- Special Fee for Reduction of Gaseous Pollutant Emissions.
3. Charges of the accounts with Municipal Fees, Indirect Taxes, ERT
4. Unfair and misleading commercial practices of energy suppliers.
Eleven suggestions
Η Ε.Κ.ΠΟΙ.ΖΩ. and the Panhellenic Federation of Consumer Associations P.OM.EK. “The Intervention” demands from the Government:
1. Set a ceiling on electricity and gas prices in household and business accounts as well as on fuel
2. To set a ceiling in the adjustment clause, as originally provided in the relevant consultation of RAE and to impose transparency in the adjustments made by the suppliers to the electricity tariffs, with criteria that are objective, reasonable, predictable and understandable to the consumers.
3. Immediate modernization of the network through the use of intelligent metering systems (smart meters), so that consumers can control current fluctuations
4. To abolish the charging of SGIs and not to be satisfied with the suspension of SGI charges only in the agricultural and industrial tariffs for a period of five months (1/11/2021 – 31/03/2022)
5. Suspend the ETMEAR payment during the crisis and then drastically reduce it for households
6. To remove from the accounts charges that are not related to the consumption of electricity (Municipal Fees / Taxes, ERT)
7. To reduce the Excise Tax
8. Redefine and extend the conditions for inclusion in the Social Housing Tariff (CTO) in terms of income and property criteria, including other vulnerable groups of consumers (unemployed / long-term unemployed, single-parent families, financially ill, disabled people, people with disabilities) , chronic patients, uninsured, elderly, students.)
9. Strengthen control mechanisms so that there is effective supervision and control of the phenomena of notoriety and unfair commercial practices
10. To proceed immediately with the necessary structural changes and reforms, in order to address the issue of the country’s energy dependence in a substantive and long-term manner and to take initiatives to support consumers.
11. To accelerate the energy transition in accordance with the requirements of the EU with the development of RES – Renewable Energy Sources.
Source: Capital
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