The agreement should ensure consumers better protection against scammers in the energy sector.

Many examples have emerged of consumers having poor experiences and being swindled when switching electricity suppliers in recent years.

A political majority aims to put an end to this in a new agreement, as stated in a press release on Friday.

- From now on, it will be harder for luckily unscrupulous characters in the electricity industry, as we will have a grip on the power suppliers.

- We will make it easier for consumers to keep track of their electricity bill and ensure that companies are penalized if they do not follow the rules, says climate, energy, and supply minister Lars Aagaard (M).

Examples have been seen where customers have had thousands of dollars withheld. Bills that have become significantly larger than promised. Creative marketing and incomprehensible subscriptions and contracts.

To make it safer to be a consumer and to curb swindling in the electricity industry, a series of measures will better ensure consumers.

The goal is fair competition on prices and transparent terms.

Several electricity suppliers have been in the spotlight for not adhering to the existing rules, including several who have been reported to the Consumer Ombudsman.

Business organization Green Power Denmark warned in the fall of 2024 against what the organization calls "ruthless electricity suppliers."

Here, there was talk of companies that, without consent, called consumers to switch to their own company, without the consumer being aware of it.

- We have warned for years against aggressive salespeople from electricity suppliers, who with deceptive and in some cases illegal methods have swindled consumers, says top chief Kristian Jensen in a press release.

There have been cases where electricity suppliers, in conflict with the law, did not refund former customers the money they had with the companies.

The government proposes that fines can be imposed on companies that repeatedly violate rules and ignore any orders from authorities.

According to the agreement, a company with an income of 20 to 50 million dollars can receive a fine of up to half a million dollars.

Director of the Consumer Council Think Winni Grosbøll has previously described the conditions on the electricity market as "wild west-like."

She has early expressed confidence that initiatives will remove the worst unscrupulous characters in the industry.

The government has entered into the agreement with SF, Enhedslisten, The Radicals, Alternative, The Conservatives, Danish People's Party.

/ritzau/

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