Until July 31… Retrieve heating and electricity funds from EVN
About 300,000 families in Lower Austria can claim financial compensation from EVN, provided they apply before July 31, 2025. The compensation is due to illegal price increases imposed by EVN on its customers, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court in Vienna. The decision states that all EVN customers who were under a fixed-price energy contract (OPTIMA) as of September 1, 2022, are entitled to compensation.
The average compensation is around 410 euros for gas contracts and 90 euros for electricity contracts, and applications must be submitted online, by phone, or directly at the EVN service center. Affected customers have already received a written notice detailing the compensation. The actual amount depends on the duration of the tariff subscription and the amount of consumption, so it is advisable to ask directly to know the due amount.
Energy expert Stefan Spiegelhofer from the platform durchblicker confirmed that applying for compensation is worthwhile in any case, especially since it is an opportunity to review the prices available in the market. Families in Niederösterreich that consume around 3,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 15,000 kilowatt-hours of gas annually can save up to 534 euros if they choose another provider.
The background of the case dates back to a court ruling that annulled a clause in EVN contracts allowing for price changes in an unclear manner, a clause that caused increases of up to 150% in electricity and gas prices since September 2022. The Verein für Konsumenteninformation (VKI) successfully filed a lawsuit against EVN, leading to this clause being deemed invalid and non-transparent.
Although many trust regional energy providers because they believe they are fairer and safer, this issue has revealed that this trust is not always justified. Investigations have shown that loyalty to large companies like EVN or Wien Energie does not benefit customers. A study conducted by durchblicker showed that 80% of Austrians have never changed their gas provider, and half of them have not switched their electricity provider. Despite the increasing complaints about the rising cost of living, many still pay too much due to not comparing prices. Regional energy companies sometimes charge prices that are 40% higher than alternative providers, due to their delay in implementing price reductions.
For example, EVN in Lower Austria offers a fixed rate of 15.68 cents per kilowatt-hour, while other companies provide prices starting from just 12 cents. Therefore, those who choose to switch providers can save up to 198 euros a year without any special switching bonuses. Stefan Spiegelhofer emphasizes that saving on electricity costs is easier than many think, and the government itself recommends seriously considering switching providers. For those who feel hesitant, the platform durchblicker offers free advisory services over the phone to assist them in choosing the best offers.