That is changing for employees and consumers

December 2022 has some changes in store for employees and consumers. In addition, new laws and regulations come into force. Among other things, gas and district heating customers are to receive relief. In addition, the winter timetable of Deutsche Bahn will apply.

From December 2022: These laws and amendments come into force

Like almost every month, December 2022 brings some important changes for employees and consumers. In addition, new laws come into force.

For example, gas and district heating customers receive relief. In addition, a nationwide warning day will take place on December 8th, on which smartphone users will receive a message on their device.

1. Relief: One-off payment for gas and district heating customers

In March 2023, the so-called gas price brake is to come into force. However, households and small businesses should already receive support. The state wants to take over the down payments for gas and district heating in December 2022. Beneficiary consumers do not have to take any action, because the landlord takes care of that.

For owners, the respective supplier is obliged to debit less money from the account. However, landlords have up to one year to carry out the corresponding settlement. It is therefore possible that tenants will only receive the relief in the coming year, but at the latest in December 2023.

2. Cell Broadcast: Nationwide warning day on December 8, 2022

As early as February 2022, the Federal Network Agency paved the way for disaster warnings via cell broadcast. The first nationwide warning day is to take place on December 8, 2022. The aim is to “inform people in Germany about warning devices and processes and to sensitize them to these warnings,” says a report from Vodafone.

The providers want to inform you about this beforehand via SMS. In contrast to a disaster, a warning will be sent throughout Germany on December 8th. This affects 294 districts and 107 urban districts. Depending on the warning level, the message should also emit a tone when smartphones are silent. In addition, a text appears on the screen.

3. Deutsche Bahn publishes winter timetable

The new Deutsche Bahn winter timetable will apply from December 11, 2022. It is probably of particular interest to commuters. Because the company quit more journeys as well as line changes and the use of new ICEs.

The railway also inaugurates its new high-speed line between Wendlingen and Ulm. This should increase the number of trips by 20. For trips to Frankfurt Airport, there should be around 60 percent more seats. The company is also presenting its new ICE “3-neo”, which is intended to guarantee further connections to other European countries.

4. Apple launches emergency call SOS via satellite in Germany

Surprisingly, Apple has released its new function “Emergency SOS via satellite” in the USA and Canada. In Germany, too, users of the iPhone 14 models should be able to use the feature from December 2022. However, the satellite emergency service could be chargeable.

The US company has not yet announced an exact release date. With emergency call SOS via satellite, iPhone 14 users should be able to connect to the emergency service – even if neither mobile nor WLAN reception is available.

5. New streaming service: Paramount Plus starts in Germany

With Paramount Plus, a new streaming service will start in Germany on December 8, 2022. According to the official press release, Paramount Global’s streaming portal wants nothing less than to “climb the peak of streaming”. In addition to Germany, the service is also to be launched in Austria and Switzerland.

The program should then be accessible in all three countries via the URL “paramountplus.de”. You can also access the content via mobile devices and stream it on supported connected TV devices – for example via the platforms from Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung and Roku.

The monthly subscription should cost 7.99 euros. An annual subscription costs EUR 79.99. Sky customers who have booked “Cinema” have an exclusive benefit because they stream the Paramount Plus content free of charge as part of their Sky package.

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