Pay off the arrears
Consumers who pay the arrears immediately will get their electricity and gas back more quickly. Utilities are obliged to lift the blockage immediately as soon as the arrears have been paid. Depending on how busy the blocking service is, this can take a few days for electricity. Things are more complicated with gas, where a gas fitter first has to carry out a pressure test – and depending on how busy the company is, this can delay the process.
Negotiate with the supplier
If you can only partially pay the arrears, try to negotiate with the supplier. Some offer the option of, for example, paying down half of the debt and paying off the other half in installments.
Apply for government aid
If you are unable to pay the arrears and your provider no longer agrees to an installment plan, arrange a consultation appointment with the local job center or social welfare office where you live as quickly as possible. Here you can apply for a one-off citizen's allowance or loan for energy debts in order to pay off the arrears.
Be careful: moving!
Some people who have no means of paying off the arrears sometimes try to move or change provider. The former only works if the apartment is not in the same supply area. If so, the supplier will also block this if it finds the same contractual partner at a different address. Important: Moving or changing provider can, in the best case scenario, only give you time to pay off the debts. The debt always catches up with you, albeit late and often in the form of a debt collection letter with interest and even higher fees.
