Energy prices in the EU have been rising sharply since autumn 2021, which led to increased energy poverty. However, these uncontrolled price increases are not only a consequence of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, but also an indication of the currently non-functioning energy markets. From the point of view of AK, there is a pressing need for immediate, but also long-term policy measures, to obtain affordable prices for all: On the one hand a decoupling of the electricity price from the gas price is necessary and hence a gas price cap should be considered. On the other hand, additional social measures are crucial to protect those who really need it.