The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) and Verbund announced this on Monday morning. Verbund plans to inform the affected customers in writing in the coming weeks about how much money they are entitled to. With an average annual electricity consumption of 3,315 kWh, this results in a payout amount of around 90 euros. Verbund had a price adjustment clause in its general terms and conditions until the end of 2022 that referred to the Austrian Electricity Price Index (ÖSPI). Based on this clause, Verbund increased the prices of many electricity supply contracts on May 1, 2022. VKI considered the clause to be inadmissible and took it to court. The Vienna Higher Regional Court ruled in favor of VKI in the second instance, and the judgment is final.
Former customers can also receive credit
To transfer the excess amount, you must register free of charge with the VKI at www.verbraucherrecht.at/verbund-aktion2024 by November 11, 2024 at the latest. Former Verbund customers who were affected by the price increase in May 2022 can also receive the credit by registering with the VKI.
The association complains that there are still no clear regulations for price changes. In order to ensure legal certainty, there is therefore no choice but to obtain the consent of customers even when reducing prices.
VSV: “Customers are entitled to considerably more”
But the repayment is not enough for the consumer protection association (VSV). “Verbund customers are entitled to considerably more than was agreed in this settlement,” said Daniela Holzinger, chairwoman of the VSV, according to the press release. The reason: In addition to the price increase in 2022, the increase based on the text of the Electricity Industry Organization Act (ElWOG) was also declared invalid at the beginning of March 2023. However, the settlement with the VKI only relates to the price increase in 2022.
“Customers should not sign this lame settlement, but rather join a class action lawsuit filed by the VSV against the association in order to be able to enforce significantly higher repayments,” said Holzinger.
This article was updated at 10:07 am.
