Energy poverty and electricity cuts: The poor have their electricity cut off, the rich have their funds filled

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Stromausfall “Article 1 GG: “The dignity of all people who have a medium or high income is inviolable”. Does anything seem strange to you about this sentence? Correct: Actually it says: “The dignity of human beings” – of all human beings. Since no one would be mean enough to accuse the responsible authorities and electricity suppliers of violating the constitution, we can only draw one conclusion: people who are no longer able to pay for their electricity due to social hardship are not people at all. Because is it “worthy” to live without hot water and hot meals, without a telephone, internet, radio and television, with unironed laundry, freezing and in the dark? Based on Marie Antoinette, one could perhaps advise: “If you no longer have electricity, you should just put up candles!” In his shocking and excellently researched article, Holdger Platta points to an everyday scandal that is criticized far too rarely and far too little vehemently, even in “left-wing” and socially committed circles…”Article by Holdger Platta from May 22, 2014 in Konstantin Wecker's web magazine externer Link and since then:

3.8 million people live in households with utility payments in arrears
“Paying electricity or gas bills represents a financial challenge for some people. In 2025, around 3.8 million people said they lived in households that were in arrears on bills from utilities such as electricity or gas providers. This corresponded to a share of 4.6% of the population, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) based on the results of the survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC). Compared to the previous year, the proportion has fallen slightly: in 2024, 5.0% of the population was in arrears on utility bills…”destatis press release from September 14, 2026 and to that:
- Millions of Germans are in arrears with utility payments
  “Many people in Germany cannot keep up with paying their electricity and gas bills. According to statisticians, tenants are particularly affected.
  Around 3.8 million people in Germany had problems paying their electricity and gas bills on time last year. This corresponds to a proportion of 4.6 percent of the population, said the Federal Statistical Office. Compared to the previous year, the proportion has fallen slightly: in 2024, 5.0 percent of the population was in arrears on utility bills.
  Tenants in particular did not pay bills: While 3.3 percent of people from owner households were in arrears with utility payments last year, the proportion of renter households was higher at 5.8 percent.
  Higher additional costs
  Additional costs and additional additional costs also represent a financial burden for many tenants. Prices for additional housing costs have recently risen slightly above average. According to the statisticians, these were 3.1 percent higher in August 2026 than in the same month of the previous year..." Agency report from September 14, 2026 in Zeit online
Increasing energy poverty: consumer advice centers demand protection from blockages
"... consumer advocates are demanding more rights for customers whose electricity or gas suppliers want to cut off. The costs of a blockage for the affected consumers vary considerably, shows a still unpublished market comparison by the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), which is available to the taz. An energy blockage is always preceded by a payment arrears. It can be initiated by the supplier with a delay in payment of just 100 euros. This is not a marginal problem. The monitoring report According to the Federal Network Agency and the Federal Cartel Office in 2025 - the most recent report - around 4.6 million households received a threat of blocking electricity in 2024. For gas, there were almost a million (...) In the opinion of consumer advocates, the statutory deadlines of four weeks between the threat of a blockage and its implementation as well as the eight working days between the announcement of the blocking and the actual interruption of supply are not enough for those affected to find a solution The VZBV calls for these deadlines to be doubled if debtor or consumer advice is involved. Consumer advocates also want more options to avert a block, for example through deferral agreements a statutory winter moratorium so that the heating is not switched off in winter.(…) A power cut should not further aggravate the financial situation of those affected, emphasize consumer advocates. “Anyone who is already struggling with rising energy prices will quickly find themselves in a debt spiral due to additional locking and unlocking costs,” says Munder. If the connection is cut and restored, additional costs will arise. The VZBV compared the prices for this from the operators of 58 energy networks. For electricity, the price range was between 92 euros and 231 euros, for gas between 92 euros and 315 euros. In some cases, cancellation costs are due if the ban can still be averted. Consumer advocates are calling for a clear definition of what constitutes appropriate blocking costs. If suppliers deviate from this upwards, they should have to justify this. (…) At the same time, one reason for delivery stops is the unfavorable timing of the payment of government payments. “This can be seen as an indication that the welfare state has not yet responded adequately to the symptoms of energy poverty and is not reliably supporting affected households,” says a VZBV position paper.” Article by Anja Krüger from August 3, 2026 in the taz online
Proceedings regarding the power cuts will again be brought before the district courts
“In my newsletter dated 17/2026, I sounded the alarm that legal protection in the event of electricity and gas cuts had been transferred from the local courts to the regional courts and that there was actually a risk of losing legal protection. Further information:https://t1p.de/g4vhs
This regulation has now been reversed. This was decided in a so-called “omnibus procedure” – a procedure that is sometimes used to quickly get smaller changes to the law through the Bundestag. The reversal was specifically anchored in the law to reform the recognition of paternity.This transfer back to the local courts takes effect on the day after the law is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette, i.e. h. probably sometime in July.
Information about this in the LTO:https://t1p.de/t0psj
Bundestag publication:https://t1p.de/p4xr5 " From theThomé Newsletter 20/2026 from June 14, 2026
Legal protection in the event of electricity and gas cuts has been transferred from the local courts to the regional courts: There is actually a risk of losing legal protection
“Largely unnoticed by the public, the Federal Ministry introduced changes to the Energy Industry Act that affect responsibility for electricity and gas cuts. According to the federal government, these should not only help energy suppliers but also their customers. CDU MP Lars Rohwer spoke about the draft law in the Bundestag about “immediate relief” and “practical improvements in people’s everyday lives”.
However, the reality is significantly different: responsibility for electricity and gas cuts has been shifted from the local courts to the regional courts. This has massive consequences, especially because of the requirement to have a lawyer in such proceedings. The first step is to find a lawyer who is willing to work on an advisory basis. In addition, there are travel costs to the regional courts, which are often not where those affected live. (…)
Comment:
This regulation is a disaster in terms of social policy and the rule of law. People whose electricity or gas has been cut off are effectively deprived of access to justice. If you can't pay your energy bill, you usually can't finance a lawyer. (…) In fact, it is a massive reduction in effective legal protection at the expense of low-income households. Anyone who seriously believes that people without electricity or gas can easily organize and finance legal help has lost all contact with social reality. (…) All parties must work to ensure that this regulation is reversed and that jurisdiction falls back to the local courts!“Tacheles report from May 17, 2026 , see:
- Mistake by the Federal Ministry of Economics? How a change in the law is making life difficult for thousands of electricity customers
  “Anyone who doesn't pay their electricity bill has had one last chance: to go to court to avoid a power cut. But an inconspicuous change in the Energy Industry Act is causing problems for customers, companies and courts.(…) So far, power cuts in such cases have often been averted at the local court. But that's over: since the beginning of the year, proceedings regarding electricity and gas cuts have had to be conducted in the regional courts. With the need for a lawyer and higher costs - an additional hurdle for those affected, expensive for the energy suppliers and pointless for the courts…”Contribution by Annelie Kaufmann from April 20, 2026 at LTO
4.2 million people live in households with utility payments arrears (social policy response: “protective vests for bailiffs”)
“People from renter households are more likely to default on payments than people from owner households. A third of the population has no reserves for unexpected expenses. Prices for household energy remain at a high level despite current declines: paying electricity or gas bills represents a financial challenge for some people. In 2024, around 4.2 million people said they lived in households that were in arrears on bills from utilities such as electricity or gas providers. This corresponded to a share of 5.0% of the population, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) based on the results of the survey on income and living conditions (EU-SILC). Compared to the previous year, the proportion is at a similar level: in 2023, 5.4% of the population was in arrears on utility bills…”Destatis press release from September 16, 2025 – while bailiffs are celebrated as heroes of the work:
- Protective vests for bailiffs: “If I were afraid, I couldn’t do the job”
  “The Berlin judicial administration will equip its bailiffs with stab and bulletproof protective vests. Sascha Adamek and Jo Goll were traveling with two officers who had already been threatened and attacked during their work.
  It is a delicate mission by the senior bailiff D. Lüdke and her colleague M. Graetz in an allotment colony in Berlin-Lichtenberg. There is a crate of beer in front of a gazebo, which suggests that the owner cannot be far or is even still there. Lüdke gains access with the help of a locksmith and slowly fights his way forward. The tenant has not paid his electricity bills for months and has not responded to mail from the two bailiffs. That's why his electricity is being cut off today. A technician from Stromnetz Berlin is present during the operation…”Contribution by Sascha Adamek and Jo Goll from September 16th, 2025 in the rbb including video
Successful model lawsuit from VZ NRW: Better protection against power cuts, installment payments can avert power cuts
“VZ NRW successfully sued NEW Niederrhein Energie und Wasser before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court (OLG Düsseldorf).
– Energy suppliers are not allowed to charge fees for installment payment agreements if customers are in arrears.
– And if there are high arrears, they have to offer installment payments of up to 24 months.
In a judgment dated February 13, 2025, NEW Niederrhein Energie und Wasser was sentenced by the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court (ref. I-20 UKI 7/24, not yet published) to no longer charge fees for its avoidance agreements in the event of electricity and gas cuts. The court further decided that NEW was not allowed to limit the duration of the prevention agreements to 12 months, but must offer up to 24 months. Furthermore, according to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, clauses that make the effectiveness of the prevention agreement dependent on the payment of the first installment are invalid. Finally, in the event of non-payment, an interruption in the energy supply must be announced again with 8 days' notice. The Higher Regional Court did not allow the appeal on all of the above points.
It is also relevant that the OLG assumes in the decision that consumer loan law applies to payment installment agreements. This means that payment installment agreements can only be terminated if consumers are in arrears with two installments and a two-week deadline has been set for payment of the outstanding amount (§§ 506, 498 BGB)..” From theThomé Newsletter 06/2025 from February 23, 2025 , see also:
- Better protection against power cuts: NRW consumer advice center successfully sues NEW Niederrhein Energie und Wasser GmbH
  Press release from February 14, 2025 from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center
Electricity poverty: In 2019, suppliers cut off electricity to 289,000 households - with payments overdue for just 100 euros
"... Around 289,000 households in Germany had their electricity turned off last year because of unpaid bills. This was determined by the Federal Network Agency for its new monitoring report on the energy market. Compared to 2018, the number of power cuts has fallen by around 7,000. This is the lowest level since the surveys began in 2011, as an excerpt from the report shows. The document is available to the German Press Agency. In 2014 The supplier has blocked the connection to more than 350,000 households if the customer is in arrears with payment of at least 100 euros. The supplier is then allowed to turn off the electricity at the earliest four weeks later. In fact, the electricity was turned off in 0.6 percent of all connections “The number of gas cuts was around 31,000 in 2019, around 2,000 fewer than in the previous year. As usual, 0.2 percent of household customers’ connections were affected.” Report from October 7, 2020 in new Germany online
Electricity debts: Due to the Corona crisis, energy companies want to forego power cuts [unfortunately probably limited]
"... power cuts are a means of pressure used by energy suppliers to force defaulting customers to pay off their electricity debts. But if there is no money, a power cut becomes permanent. Due to the Corona crisis, Germany's major energy companies now want to forego power cuts. For the time being, customers should not worry that the energy supply will be cut, it said in several statements from the electricity suppliers. However, this only applies "for now". As soon as the crisis has been overcome, they want power cuts again (…) Existing power cuts could even be lifted, for example, the energy company EnBW announced. Some municipal utilities have also said that it makes sense to contact your electricity supplier in the current situation and ask for the power cut to be lifted, even if the debts cannot be paid. Important note from and at gegen-hartz.de from March 24, 2020
Criticism of a lack of transparency and follow-up costs: power cuts to 300,000 households
"... In most cases, anyone affected by a power cut in Germany has not paid the energy supplier's bill. But for the defaulting customers, it is not enough to just pay off their debts. The follow-up costs for restoring the power supply are sometimes just as high, sometimes amounting to a three-digit amount. At the same time, they are subject to enormous fluctuations. This emerges from the federal government's response to a request from the Green parliamentary group. According to this, the network operators calculated on behalf of the electricity suppliers in the year In 2018, around 300,000 households resorted to the extreme measure of cutting off the electricity supply, an average of 51.68 euros for this measure (...) The range was wide: according to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the spread in the costs of restoration was even greater: between three and 225 euros (...) The average electricity debt for which a power cut was threatened in 2018 was at around 130 euros. The federal government sees no immediate pressure to act (…) The Greens and consumer advocates (…) denounce the non-transparent bills. “Without electricity, people cannot prepare a warm meal, store food in the refrigerator, or do homework,” said social policy spokesman Sven Lehmann. The federal government's response shows that the follow-up costs of a power cut are also becoming a serious problem. “There is a risk of debt spirals and the risk of being repeatedly affected by power cuts is increasing,” says Lehmann.“We are calling on the federal government to create clear regulations for network operators and electricity suppliers to cap costs.” The consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia has also repeatedly called for a cap on reminder and collection fees as well as blocking and unlocking costs. Article by Jan Drebes from March 4, 2020 in RP online
Energy poverty: The poor have their electricity cut off, the rich have their funds filled
"In 2020, electricity prices in Germany are expected to rise by an average of 5.5 percent and the actual living situation of poorer people will worsen even further. Because of rising prices, more and more German citizens will no longer be able to pay their electricity bills. The number of power cuts has risen to the highest level ever recorded. For 2018, the Federal Network Agency reported 344,000 households in which the lights went out and over six million threatened power cuts. Particularly affected by the Energy poverty is people who are dependent on basic security benefits or who work in precarious employment conditions. (…) The average electricity price for private households has risen from 13.94 to 30.43 cents per kilowatt hour in 2019. This corresponds to an increase of 118 percent or 6 percent per year (…) We need urgent action to effectively combat energy poverty The following points have been implemented for a long time as part of the upcoming legal changes: Removal of household energy from the standard requirements - Introduction of a needs-based household energy flat rate in addition to the standard rate - Alignment of the method for calculating the additional requirement for decentralized hot water supply - Creation of "energy security points" - Relaxation of the deadline for a possible energy block - Strengthening legal rights to take over energy demands in social law and the introduction of a guaranteed basic amount of energy..." Contribution from January 29, 2020 from and at the Dortmund Trade Union Forum
Extent and impact of energy poverty: Increasing
"Energy poverty is an increasing problem in Germany. This is exemplified by the number of electricity and gas cuts in German households. In 2017, the electricity cuts increased to a total of 330,242. The number of gas cuts in the same year was almost 38,000. The questioners asked the federal government, among other things, about its definition of energy poverty and what measures it had introduced to reduce energy poverty in Germany. From the federal government's answer shows, among other things, that the number of blockings of end consumers in North Rhine-Westphalia was just under 100,000 (specifically 98,177)..." Message from Thomé Newsletter 19/2019 from May 12, 2019 point 4 with a link to the federal government's response to the small question from the Alliance 90/The Greens faction about energy poverty
The Left is exploring the possibilities for banning power cuts
“The left-wing faction is exploring the possibilities for banning power cuts. In oneSmall request (19/7517) the MPs would like to know what chances the federal government sees for such a ban. They also ask about measures to prevent power cuts. According to the questioners, a total of 4.8 million households were threatened with having their electricity switched off in 2017 because payments had not been made.” From theThomé Newsletter 07/2019 from February 17, 2019
Blackout for 344,000 households: 14,000 more power cuts were executed in Germany in 2017 than in the previous year
“Electric energy has become significantly more expensive over the past few years. Not everyone in the Federal Republic of Germany can easily afford them anymore. Last year, almost 344,000 households in this country had their electricity turned off because of unpaid bills. That was around 14,000 more power cuts than in 2016, as shown in the draft of the Federal Network Agency's new monitoring report on the electricity market. The largest number of lockdowns, around 98,000, were in North Rhine-Westphalia, reported the dpa news agency, which had a draft report available on Sunday. Last year, the relevant companies – euphemistically called “suppliers” – threatened to block the ongoing supply of electrical energy to a good 4.8 million defaulting payers. More than seven percent of the previously warned customers actually had their electricity turned off…” Report from and at Junge Welt from November 12, 2018 , see also Harald Thomé:
- Poverty in concrete terms: The number of power cuts continues to rise / Around half of all blocked households are SGB II/SGB XII recipients
  “In 2017, almost 344,000 households in Germany had their electricity temporarily turned off due to unpaid bills. That was around 14,000 more power cuts than in 2016, according to the draft of the Federal Network Agency's new monitoring report on the electricity market. The most closures, around 98,000, were in North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2017, utilities threatened a power cut in around 4.8 million cases. A good 7 percent of them actually had their electricity turned off. In 2016, around 318,000 power cuts were carried out on behalf of basic suppliers. This emerges from a response (19/1604) from the federal government to a minor question (19/1395) from the AfD parliamentary group. It also states that the federal government does not have any statistical data on the structure of the groups of people affected by power cuts, according to the BR's answer - DS 19/1604 from April 11, 2018. However, the BR refers to a study according to which around half of all households affected by power cuts receive basic security benefits (SGB II or SGB XII). (http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/016/1901604.pdf ) (Note: I would normally not publish AfD questions and answers, but in this case the result is so relevant that an exception must be made here.)
  I would like to remind you once again of the decision of the BVerfG (July 23, 2014 - 1 BvL 10/12), in which it made it clear that the legislature must continually check whether the subsistence minimum is still covered: "If there is an obvious and significant discrepancy between the actual price development and the development of prices for goods relevant to standard requirements taken into account when updating the standard requirement levels, the legislature must react promptly." (loc. cit. Rz 144) Electricity prices are expressly addressed: “The development of prices for household electricity must be taken into account.”
  This means significantly higher control services simply because of the development of energy prices and a change in the obligation to assume energy debts!(That would be something for parties that want to get Hartz IV behind them).In addition:http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/deutschland-mehr-finanzen-wegen-unpayer-rechnungen-strom-abstell-a-1237752.html " From theThomé Newsletter 41/2018 from November 12, 2018
Proposals from the National Poverty Conference to overcome power cuts
“Electricity debts and power cuts are a big problem in Germany, not a marginal phenomenon. In 2016, 328,000 customers actually had their power interrupted due to unpaid bills. The closures resulted from a total of 6.6 million interruption threats, of which around 1.2 million resulted in an interruption order. The relatively high number of interruption threats shows that many households have payment problems. Income poverty is often the reason. (…) Half of the cordoned off households are SGNB II/SGB XII recipients. (NL Thome Newsletter 26/2018 from July 15, 2018). (…) Energy debts as a general social problem cannot be avoided through local help alone. In the context of a social policy framework, it is necessary to supplement the previous activities of the actors involved with structural changes in social law. As one of the possible political measures within the framework of public services, the welfare state must ensure that these households are supplied with energy that meets the criterion of human dignity.”Message from Thomé Newsletter 28/2018 from July 29, 2018Proposals from the National Poverty Conference to overcome power cuts from April 24, 2018
[Bundestag] 331,272 power cuts in 2015
“In 2015, so-called power cuts were imposed in 331,272 cases (2014: 351,802). 43,626 cases (2014: 46,488) were recorded in gas supply. This emerges from a response from the federal government (18/11351) to a small question from the Die Linke parliamentary group (18/11052). The federal government relies on figures from surveys of network operators. In 2015, a blocking threat was issued in 6,282,975 (electricity) and 1,284,670 cases (gas). According to the federal government, the average claim amount when threatened was 119 euros (electricity) or 123 euros (gas).…" From theAnswer from the federal government from March 22, 2017 (hib 182/2017)
Poverty in Germany: The shame when your electricity is turned off
“The fates I hear here at my desk really make my heart sad.” According to a survey by the Federal Network Agency, more than 350,000 households were temporarily without power in one year, and six million people were threatened with a shutdown. And even among them, only a few want to speak publicly - out of shame. (…) Petra Boer works at the Krefeld consumer center as part of the model project “NRW against energy poverty” funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Structural change has left many people in the Ruhr area cities behind, and the country is at the top when it comes to the number of power cuts. Petra Boer has heard many stories. That's part of the job: finding solutions, communicating them, listening. "I have to say from my consulting practice that the fates I hear here at the desk really make my heart feel sad. And anyone who can't pay is also ashamed. They are also ashamed to explain it to the employees of the municipal utility company. Quite often it is the case that there is a serious illness behind it or the company has gone bankrupt..." Contribution by Petra Ensminger from February 13, 2017 on Deutschlandfunk (we would like to thank Norbert Hermann from Bochum Prekär for pointing out this article)
Power cuts: Energy poverty is increasing in the Ruhr area
“No more money for electricity and heating – that is the bitter reality of many residents, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia. Around a third of all power cuts are imposed there. The Ruhr area is the worst affected. (…) "The Hartz4 rate simply did not rise as quickly as the electricity costs. This can be clearly proven and there is now a fairly large delta. And the government is holding back because it is extremely expensive. If Hartz-4 is increased by a few euros, then that would amount to billions. But that would be necessary." The energy lock is a symbol of the energy debt trap. And a silent, social catastrophe…”Contribution by Richard Fuchs from April 25, 2016 at Deutschlandradio Kultur
Federal Network Agency: Around 345,000 households had their electricity cut off in 2013
“Due to rising prices, more and more German citizens are unable to pay their electricity bills. According to SPIEGEL-ONLINE information, almost 345,000 households had their electricity temporarily disconnected last year. The number of power cuts increased again last year. 344,798 household customers in the basic supply had their electricity temporarily disconnected in 2013, according to the monitoring report by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), which is to be officially presented at the beginning of December and which is available to SPIEGEL ONLINE in advance. That was a good 23,000 more closures than in 2012 and around 33,000 more than in 2011. Many more households have problems with their electricity bills…”Article by Stefan Schultz from November 22, 2014 in Spiegel online
Blackouts: worse than prison
Further out of theArticle by Holdger Platta from May 22, 2014 in Konstantin Wecker's web magazine : “…I am talking about the fact that around 322,000 private households were affected by power cuts in 2012, i.e. around 657,000 citizens of our welfare state. This means that around 30,000 more people were left in the dark than in 2011, and that means that according to this increase, today - in 2014 - almost 700,000 citizens in our country no longer have enough money to be able to pay their electricity bills. And that is at least a threefold scandal…”

Energy poverty and electricity cuts: The poor have their electricity cut off, the rich have their funds filled

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