According to the Brandenburg consumer advice center, citizens are faced with a huge wave of costs, not only because of the high energy prices. As an immediate measure, consumer advocates primarily recommend saving.

In view of rising energy prices and the impending shortage of natural gas, the Brandenburg consumer advice center has called on citizens to do without.

For natural gas, the consumer advice center expects the costs to almost double this year. “Consumers who are dependent on a natural gas supply cannot usually switch quickly to other energy sources,” said Managing Director Christian Rumpke on Monday at the presentation of the annual report by consumer protection groups in the State Chancellery.

An increase of 20 percent must be expected in food costs and 15 percent in electricity, said Rumpke. Including an increase of 35 percent in fuel prices, an average family of four will have to adjust to additional costs of almost 3500 euros this year.

“In particular, we recommend avoiding hot water as much as possible,” said Rumpke. Water-saving shower heads are also useful. Rumpke also advised consumers to put money aside in order to be able to pay the expected higher utility bills.

Last year, dealing with supply contracts and energy prices was an issue in every third consultation, reported Rumpke. In the first quarter of this year, this was already the case in almost every second consultation. In many cases, consumers would have received significantly higher bills after their previously low-cost suppliers stopped delivering and they then had to pay significantly more for basic services. Rumpke asked the antitrust authorities to check the default suppliers.

Consumer Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) also called on citizens to save energy. “We expect that there will be further price increases in the fall,” she warned. Admittedly, further government relief packages can then be expected, said the minister. “But we cannot compensate for all price increases,” she emphasized.

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