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Bremen hardship fund on the verge of collapse: more electricity and water cuts are threatened!
The Bremen Senate is ending the hardship fund to support energy debts, criticized by the State Audit Office.
Bremen hardship fund on the verge of collapse: more electricity and water cuts are threatened!
A ray of hope for many people in Bremen could soon end: the hardship fund founded by the Bremen Senate in 2021 will expire by the end of 2025. This fund was created to help people with energy debt and save them from having their electricity and water turned off. But now the social deputation is confronted with harsh criticism from the State Audit Office. According to butenunbinnen.de, financial support for these people will be discontinued because the administrative effort allegedly exceeds the funding used.
The critical voices became loud when the Court of Auditors recommended in 2024 that those affected should only be supported with benefits in accordance with the Social Security Code in the future. The first hardship fund had already ceased operations at the end of last year. Now a similar fate could lie ahead for the second fund, which is on the brink just a year after it was founded.
What does this mean for those affected?
Energy and water suppliers such as SWB are already expecting an increase in electricity and water cuts as soon as payments are not made. Given the rising cost of living, the situation could become particularly explosive for many people in Bremen. As a step towards improving the situation, the capacity of the consumer advice center will be increased to better inform defaulting customers about possible solutions.
But the example from Hesse shows that similar funds have also been set up there to prevent energy blackouts. The Hesse Consumer Center coordinates the processing of emergency funding there. Your tasks include, in particular, advice, application processing and communication with energy suppliers in order to quickly help people in emergencies.
What's next?
The implementation of the current Bremen hardship fund could certainly serve as a model, while at the same time the need for sustainable solutions and offers of help in the energy crisis is obvious. Given that the second fund will expire at the end of 2025, the question arises: What alternatives are there for the people of Bremen who are experiencing financial hardship due to rising energy prices?
In the upcoming decisions, the Hesse Consumer Center is calling for a clear structure and support for those affected in order to better manage the risk of energy cuts in the future. It remains to be hoped that a viable solution will also be found in Bremen to help those who need it most.