The low-cost provider of green electricity and green gas, Stadtenergie GmbH, is said to have defrauded thousands of electricity and gas customers. The damage caused could be in the millions. The public prosecutor’s office has also already been informed.
Stadtenergie GmbH, a subsidiary of the municipal water and energy supplier (DEW21) from Dortmund, is suspected of having defrauded electricity and gas customers on a large scale. The nationwide “low-cost provider” passed on false invoices and sometimes far too high tariffs to its customers in 2022 and 2023. The “Ruhr Nachrichten” reported on this.
After the irregularities were discovered in the 2023 annual audit, DEW21 reacted: A responsible manager has already been released and external auditors have been commissioned to investigate. The resulting damage could be in the double-digit million range and affect up to 30,000 customers.
In addition to the audit by auditors, DEW21 has also informed the public prosecutor’s office, but no criminal charges have been filed yet. The affected customers should be informed by the company itself about incorrect billing and the invoices should be corrected.
“We are currently investigating the incident with internal and external experts and ask for your understanding that we cannot provide any further information on the ongoing investigations,” DEW21 said on the company’s homepage. “It is clear that we do not accept any unlawful actions in our company.”
The focus is now on processing the incidents and clarifying the question of how the billing errors could have occurred.