Association of Energy Consumers

The Bund der Energieverbraucher e.V. (Association of Energy Consumers) is a German non-profit registered association that represents the interests of private and small-business energy consumers. Founded in 1987 on the initiative of Aribert Peters, a physicist from Rheinbreitbach, it describes itself as the only consumers' interest organisation in Germany specialised on energy issues. It is politically independent, acts throughout Germany, and is a member of the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband). Its federal office is located in Unkel, near Bonn, in Rhineland-Palatinate. The association pursues sustainable energy supply, affordable energy costs, the implementation of renewable energies and the thoughtful use of energy. It offers legal assistance, maintains a litigation cost fund, and provides independent information on energy topics through its website energieverbraucher.de, its quarterly journal Energiedepesche, and personal advice. With nearly 10,000 members, it is funded exclusively by membership fees (44 euros for regular members; 29 euros for pupils, students, unemployed and elderly people) and receives no state grants, which it presents as a guarantee of independence. Over its history the association has run influential campaigns and projects. In 1989 it uncovered the "miraculous gas multiplication" (Wundersame Gasvermehrung), in which gas suppliers were found to have billed more gas than they actually received; the ensuing debate led to a change in the legal basis for gas billing and a calculation temperature of 15 °C, reducing consumer gas bills by about two percent. In 1994 it launched the Phönix project, a mass movement for the spread of solar technology that negotiated bulk discounts and directly brokered solar installations to consumers, often up to 30 percent cheaper than through conventional installers. In 1999 it organised Bunter Strom, one of the first collective electricity procurement models for consumers. From 2004 it coordinated the Preisprotest against excessive energy prices, supporting model lawsuits up to the Federal Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice; at its peak around half a million consumers were estimated to be protesting. Since 2010 it has expanded its activities to district heating, liquefied gas prices and energy poverty. The association is a member of the lobby register of the German Bundestag. It continues to publish news and organise events, including an annual conference; its website lists current topics such as private electricity trading, heat pump subsidies, energy poverty and smart meters.

The Bund der Energieverbraucher e.V. was founded in 1987 on the initiative of Aribert Peters, a physicist from Rheinbreitbach. An early success came in 1989 with the uncovering of the "Wundersame Gasvermehrung" (miraculous gas multiplication), in which gas suppliers were found to have billed more gas than they actually received. The debate initiated by the association led to a change in the legal basis for gas billing; since then a calculation temperature of 15 °C has applied, reducing consumer gas bills by about two percent. In 1994 the association launched the Phönix project, a mass movement for the spread of solar technology. Phönix initially tendered thermal solar systems centrally, negotiated volume discounts and brokered the systems directly to consumers without intermediate trade. Through joint procurement, systems could be acquired up to 30 percent cheaper than from conventional installers. According to the Tageszeitung, the project positively influenced the sales-price spiral. The solar systems offered in the project were often installed collectively by consumers under the guidance of trained advisers. Partners included environmental associations and cities such as Frankfurt am Main, Saarbrücken and Mainhausen. In 1998 the association received the Koblenz Cusanus Prize of the Koblenz citizenry for the Phönix project, awarded to innovative environmental initiatives. At the end of the 1990s the Bund der Energieverbraucher built a network of so-called solar schools, in which qualifications in solar energy were taught. By the early 2000s around 5,000 solar advisers had been trained there. In building the network the association cooperated with the German Society for Solar Energy (DGS). In 1999 the association organised the Bunter Strom project, which according to Inge Nowack of the Stuttgarter Zeitung was one of the first collective electricity procurement models for consumers. It enabled members to obtain electricity at conditions below local utility prices. According to press reports the price difference was about 20 percent. Part of the savings flowed into a fund to promote solar energy projects. In the early 2000s the association started the "Heizung ok?" campaign, initiated together with the chimney sweep associations. In a brochure, consumers were explained the measurement records of chimney sweeps. After long demands by the association to the German Weather Service (DWD) to release weather data for determining heating needs free of charge, the DWD agreed in early 2002 and has published the temperature data since 2003. From 2003 the Bund der Energieverbraucher criticised the takeover of Ruhrgas by E.ON, arguing that the merger further weakened the already limited competition in the German energy market and, in the association's view, led to higher prices for consumers. Aribert Peters said the merger was "a blow against the rule of law and consumers". After a large-scale multi-day power outage in the Münsterland in 2004, the Bund der Energieverbraucher called on affected citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia to assert damage claims against the utility RWE. Aribert Peters stated, "Those affected can invoke the European Product Liability Directive for their claims." From 2004 the association organised an action against excessive energy prices known as the Preisprotest. It coordinated model lawsuits and accompanied proceedings up to the Federal Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice. Consumers followed the call to reduce gas and electricity bills or pay only under reservation, citing a lack of reasonableness under § 315 BGB. The number of protesters was estimated at around half a million consumers in 2005. The association chairman Aribert Peters explained on WDR, referring to a ruling of the Federal Court of Justice, that price increases by utilities were subject to judicial review of reasonableness in the event of a dispute. The Consumer Advice Centre of North Rhine-Westphalia recommended either paying increases only under express reservation or reducing the price. The court disputes led in most cases to rulings in favour of consumers, for example on inadmissible price increases. EWE, based in Oldenburg, alone had to repay 100 million euros to 620,000 gas customers after a BGH ruling in 2010. Since 2010 the association has expanded its activities to topics such as district heating, liquefied gas prices and energy poverty. After the Federal Court of Justice ruling of 2010 that gas suppliers may not fully link their prices to oil price developments, the Bund der Energieverbraucher assessed the decision as an important step to strengthen consumer rights. The association, which was among the plaintiffs in the proceedings, pointed out that the challenged price adjustment clauses had unreasonably disadvantaged consumers and that refunds could be made possible. Chairman Aribert Peters also said that the ruling would not lead to falling gas prices in the short term, as prices...

• 2010

  Federal Court of Justice ruled that gas suppliers may not fully link prices to oil price developments; EWE had to repay 100 million euros to 620,000 gas customers.

• 2010

  Expanded activities to district heating, liquefied gas prices and energy poverty.

• 2005

  Number of protesters in the Preisprotest estimated at around half a million consumers.

• 2004

  After the Münsterland power outage, called on affected citizens to claim damages against RWE; launched the Preisprotest against excessive energy prices.

• 2003

  Began criticising the takeover of Ruhrgas by E.ON as harmful to competition and consumers.

• 2002

  German Weather Service (DWD) agreed to release weather data for determining heating needs free of charge; publication began in 2003.

• 1999

  Organised the Bunter Strom project, one of the first collective electricity procurement models for consumers.

• 1998

  Received the Koblenz Cusanus Prize for the Phönix project.

• 1994

  Launched the Phönix project, a mass movement for solar technology with bulk discounts of up to 30 percent.

• 1989

  Uncovered the "Wundersame Gasvermehrung" (miraculous gas multiplication); the ensuing debate led to a change in gas billing law and a 15 °C calculation temperature.

• 1987

  Founded on the initiative of Aribert Peters, a physicist from Rheinbreitbach.

Politically independent, non-profit consumer association specialised in energy, funded exclusively by membership fees and advocating for affordable, environmentally friendly energy.

• Energiedepesche quarterly journal

  The association's own quarterly journal.

• energieverbraucher.de website

  Website offering more than 2,000 pages on the widest range of energy issues.

• Legal assistance and litigation cost fund

  Support for members in legal and technical questions related to energy issues.

• Phönix solar project

  Mass movement for solar technology with bulk procurement and discounts up to 30 percent.

• Bunter Strom

  One of the first collective electricity procurement models for consumers, with prices about 20 percent below local utilities.

• Heizung ok? campaign

  Campaign with chimney sweep associations explaining measurement records to consumers.

• Heat pump subsidy comparison calculator

  Free comparison calculator offered online in connection with new heat pump subsidies.

1. 1Start Hilfe für Verbraucher und Mitglieder, Presse, Bund der Energieverbraucher e.V.energieverbraucher.de
2. 2Hilfe für Verbraucher und Mitglieder, Presse, Bund der Energieverbraucher e.V.energieverbraucher.de
3. 3Association of Energy Consumerswikidata.org
4. 4Bund der Energieverbraucherde.wikipedia.org