Price Adjustment Invalid: EVN Customers Now Receive Money Back

Customers of the Lower Austrian energy supplier EVN can hope for compensation if they were supplied by the company in 2022. This is because the price increase at that time was not legally compliant.

EVN Customers Receive Compensation Due to 2022 Price Adjustment

The Consumer Information Association (VKI) has agreed on compensation with EVN. Accordingly, private customers can request a reimbursement payment or a credit in the EVN bonus points program. Registration is possible until July 31 at www.vki.at/EVN2025.

The basis of the agreement is that the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) declared a price adjustment clause of EVN inadmissible. As a result, according to the VKI, which had filed the lawsuit, the legal basis for the price increase that took place in September 2022 has been removed. The settlement aims to offset the additional costs for electricity and natural gas caused by the price adjustment.

Amount of Compensation Depends on Consumption

At the beginning of May 2025, EVN will send information letters to more than 300,000 affected household customers. Those who are no longer EVN customers will also benefit from the settlement. The amount of the reimbursement payment or credit depends on individual consumption. The tariffs Optima Strom, Optima Eco, Optima Natur, Optima Eco Natur, Optima Gas, and Optima Biogas were affected by the 2022 price increase.

Stefan Schreiner, head of the class action department at VKI, expects reimbursement payments or bonus points "equivalent to several hundred euros." Herwig Hauenschidl, managing director of EVN Energievertrieb GmbH & Co KG, praises the "good solution in the interest of our customers" but also wishes for "urgent legal certainty for necessary price adjustments." The planned Electricity Industry Act (ElWG) must "finally provide the necessary clarity."

Company Hopes for Clearer Rules from Legislators

The specific amount of compensation depends on consumption, the tariff, and the period during which the tariff was charged and will be announced on a case-by-case basis upon request. However, an average household supplied with one of the affected tariffs until April 1, 2023, will receive 2,500 EVN bonus points or 50 euros for electricity and 16,750 EVN bonus points or 335 euros for gas. Bonus points and reimbursement payments will be credited within eight weeks or transferred to the specified bank account, promises EVN.

(APA/Red)

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