Competition Authority targets Heidjers Stadtwerke in its scrutiny
In the heart of Lower Saxony, investigative reporter André Ricci has been shedding light on a pressing issue - the significant disparities in socalgas prices between different network areas.
André, a member of the Correctiv editorial team with a focus on individualization and demographics, has been delving into the energy sector, uncovering intriguing findings. One of his latest articles, published in the Heidekreis newsletter, discusses the energy issues in Neuenkirchen.
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In January 2023, households in the least favorable network area in Lower Saxony were paying a staggering 220 percent more for their gas compared to those in the cheapest area. This gas prices gap, while temporarily narrowed in the fall of 2024, rose again to 106 percent.
The supervisory authority for the energy sector in Lower Saxony conducted an investigation into these price differences, finding significant variations between 72 basic gas suppliers. The authority's findings suggest that some suppliers may have exploited the lack of competition by excessively inflating prices.
One such supplier under scrutiny is Heidjers Stadtwerke, which has been found to be very high on a purified price list for 15,000 kWh in September 2024. However, the specific names of the basic electricity suppliers (Grundversorger) ranked 1 to 3 in the price lists for the same period remain undisclosed.
If the company cannot plausibly justify its gas prices or make corrections and offer compensation to customers, the regional antitrust authority may initiate a formal cartel administrative procedure.
For those interested in staying informed about André's investigations, the article of the day in the Heidekreis newsletter is a must-read. You can reach André directly via phone number 05191 808-194 or email a.ricci@our website.
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