German court voids ExtraEnergie's steep price hikes for thousands of customers

In a landmark ruling, the Oberlandesgericht Hamm found ExtraEnergie GmbH's late-2022 price adjustments illegal, reinstating the original contract prices for thousands of consumers. The judgment stems from a class-action lawsuit launched by the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband, which gathered over 4,200 affected customers. ExtraEnergie had tried to raise electricity rates from about 28.3 cents to roughly 74 cents per kWh and gas rates from 7.9 cents to 24.7 cents per kWh, even for those under price-guarantee agreements.

The court dismissed the provider's claim that the Ukraine-driven energy crisis forced the hikes, noting that the company had voluntarily assumed the risk by offering fixed-price guarantees. Refunds to customers are now imminent, while ExtraEnergie may seek a review by the Federal Court of Justice, potentially delaying payouts. The ruling also signals broader scrutiny of similar practices by other energy firms.