Eligible are all those who are exempt from the ORF fee and additionally receive a social benefit, such as care allowance, pensions, unemployment insurance benefits, or social assistance. In mid-March, OBS sent an information letter to the approximately 300,000 households exempt from the ORF fee. If OBS has the 33-digit metering point number starting with "AT", no further steps are necessary. Otherwise, a form must be filled out and the metering point number provided.

Flat Rates for Households with More Than Three People

Students are excluded from the social tariff. Households with more than three people registered as their main residence at the address in the Central Register of Residents (ZMR) receive a flat rate of 52.50 euros per year for the fourth and each additional person.

OBS transmits the metering point number and the duration of the entitlement to the respective electricity supplier. The social tariff is generally considered on the electricity bill from the month following the data transmission by OBS. Those who switch from an annual bill to a monthly bill with their tariff provider can check in May whether the social tariff was already considered in April.

According to the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG), the costs of the social tariff, amounting to around 60 million euros annually, must be borne by the electricity industry. However, it is expected that companies will pass these costs on to other customer groups.

(APA/Red.)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article .