Energy scammers are active again, warns ERO board member Zemanová

With the end of the energy crisis, unfair practices by energy scammers are reappearing. This contrasts with energy suppliers, as ERO board member Zemanová described in the first part of the interview. Their activity is being fuelled by the market recovery and the general decline in gas prices and electricity prices, which motivates consumers to change their contracts.

A frequent problem encountered by the ERO is penalties for withdrawing from a contract. Consumers often switch suppliers and subsequently complain to the ERO about a penalty imposed on them. “Sometimes customers are to blame because they forget about their valid commitment, but in most cases it is suppliers or intermediaries,” says ERO board member Markéta Zemanová.

In the second part of the interview, Markéta Zemanová also highlighted how they resolved a case in consumers’ favour in which a supplier, through “stacking penalties”, demanded payments amounting to tens of thousands: “Our legal interpretation is different; we are convinced that such ‘stacking of penalties’ is not possible,” the ERO board member said.