Watchdog opens investigation of Electrabel prices

Consumer watchdog organisation Test-Aankoop has opened an investigation into the price increases energy supplier Electrabel is charging. Electrabel customers recently received an invoice for an advance payment that is considerably higher than in previous years.

Gas and electricity prices have increased considerably. Some time ago, the CREG, the Flemish committee that controls gas and electricity, announced that this year Flemish families will spend an extra 200 euro on gas as well as 100 euro on electricity.

Recent invoices sent out by Electrabel seem to suggest the energy giant is passing the price increases directly onto its customers.

Even households that last year got money back are now faced with an even higher advance.

According to Electrabel, the soaring oil prices as well as the increased distribution costs have forced them to break their promise and increase their rates.

In fact, the other suppliers will have no other option but to follow their example, a spokesman for the company said.

“Electrabel is overdoing it”

Test-Aankoop, the Flemish watchdog organisation isn’t at all pleased with the situation.

“Costs may have gone up but unlike the other suppliers Electrabel is charging its customers an extra 10 to 15 percent and that is both unnecessary as well as uncalled for”, Test-Aankoop says.

The organisation has advised customers to call the Electrabel customer service hotline in order to ask for a readjustment of their bill.

According to Test-Aankoop the latter is presently receiving some 13.000 phone calls from disgruntled customers a day.

flandersnews.be