Reader question: Which steps help me as an Austrian household if a disconnection of electricity is announced because of an outstanding electricity bill?
A reminder warns of the disconnection of the electricity in your Austrian rental flat. If you yourself are the contracting party of the supplier and the network operator, you should clarify the matter immediately with both parties. This article deals with payment difficulties in a direct electricity contract. For gas, district heating or a mere recharging through the landlord you must not apply its rules unchanged.
Establish the actual status
Put invoice, reminders, proof of payment and disconnection notice side by side. Which claim relates to which company, what has already been paid and which date is actually stated in the last letter? Note the actual receipt of the messages. A solution promised verbally is not yet a confirmed change of the procedure.
§34 ElWG generally requires at least two reminders in the event of contractual breaches, each with a grace period of at least two weeks; the last must be sent by registered post. Further information and notices are prescribed. Disconnections must not be carried out on the last working day before weekends or public holidays. The provision contains, however, exceptions for certain other contract terminations. [ElWG34]
Contact both responsible parties
E-Control explicitly recommends contacting the supplier and the network operator. Describe the concrete situation and ask what action is required by when and how you will receive confirmation. Keep responses, notes of conversations and sent proofs together. Do not rely on an unconfirmed message to any party to terminate any ongoing disconnection process. [ECABS]
Consider an affordable payment arrangement
§28 ElWG grants household customers, when paying outstanding bills, in principle instalment payment with a term of up to twelve months, in justified cases up to eighteen months. For arrears from monthly bills a separate rule applies: once a year up to six months. The type of bill and the specific application must therefore match. [ElWG28]
Calculate the future ongoing payments in addition to the instalment. A high instalment proposal is of little use if it already makes the next ongoing payment impossible. This private affordability calculation does not replace the legal examination of the bill.
Explicitly raise the issue of basic supply
§30 ElWG obliges the captured suppliers to supply household customers who invoke basic supply within their relevant supply area. The network operator is also, under the statutory conditions and despite previous arrears, obliged to provide network services. Acceptable securities or advance payments are limited. [ElWG30]
The invocation must be dealt with concretely with the supplier and the network operator. Basic supply does not erase the previous debts; E-Control explicitly points out their continuation. New payment obligations also remain decisive. [ECABS][ElWG30]
A hypothetical conclusion with a verifiable status
A tenant recognises that they only contacted the supplier, while there is no answer regarding the network claim. They clarify both processes, demand concrete information about the announced disconnection and assign payment arrangements or basic supply checks to the correct parties.
Only with comprehensible responses can they consider the work status clarified. In case of uncertainty or a dispute about the procedure E-Control is also available as a contact. [ECABS] The article promises no automatic avoidance of disconnection through a single phone call; its aim is a timely processed and documented solution for the actual procedural status.