Customers hardly accept increased competition on the gas market by switching households in the 25 largest German cities can additionally 139 Euro save Berlin a year, October 15, 2009 after numerous price cuts in the spring and summer benefit million gas customers in the autumn of increasingly cheaper gas prices. With around 350 companies, about half of all regional basic utilities have lowered the prices again by an average 8.5 percent since September or planned such a move in the coming weeks. According to research of the independent consumer portal toptarif.de give away German households but three-digit millions, because the possibilities of the liberalised gas market is barely perceived. Since 2006, “gas customers also have the opportunity freely to choose their provider, energy expert Thorsten Bohg declared by toptarif.de yet there is scarcely budged, which benefit just the often more expensive providers of basic but on the consumer side.” To obtain current according to the Federal Association Energy and water gas remained so far still 92 per cent of all private end customers from their local utility, a total of 77 percent in expensive primary care. About 10 million households in Germany have the opportunity to switch their gas supplier, because they have their own counters in their homes. Already with the choice of a cheaper fare at the local company the annual gas cost an average 6.3 percent can be reduced”, calculates Bohg. Grossed nearly 8 million homes in base supply tariffs here around 360 million euros rinsed by the passivity of consumers alone unnecessarily into the coffers of the company.” The possible savings when changing of the gas provider is even greater. According to current estimates of toptarif.de for the 25 largest German cities, a sample budget with an annual consumption of 12,500 kWh gas can save on average more 139 euro compared to the lowest tariff of the local utility company.
The fear “many consumers prior to changing the gas provider is thereby completely baseless, especially since the legislature the consumer in terms of supply security fully protects”, Bohg makes it clear. Already by a simple phone call the supplier can be started within a few minutes with saving. Comparison portals on the Internet help to find also cheap alternatives in each region and support the consumer in all phases of the comparison and change process.” Through consumer portals as toptarif.de (www.toptarif.de/ gas) or free service hotline 0800-10 to 30-499 consumers quickly and easily inform themselves about alternatives in their region and free to switch to a cheaper gas provider. toptarif.de is the independent consumer portal of the Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, for all common tariffs in Germany. It currently includes the categories of electricity, gas, DSL, investments, and insurance for legal protection, furniture, residential, private liability, car, keepers liability and is constantly expanded and updated. The consumer can thereby with minimal free checking, whether there are cheaper rates for him, and, where appropriate, immediately change. The complete service of change of is completely free of charge for the consumer and the customer receives the original conditions of the provider, in some cases over toptarif.de in any case even additional, not available from the provider themselves bonuses and discounts. Media contact: Christina Salinas Tel.