Well, the price increase will come no later than after the end of the price lock, whether with the current or future supplier.
That may be true. But the high gas price currently does not stem from a general trend, but from special factors. In this respect, things will look completely different again in 6 months (the market is already relaxing now). But with a gas price lock, you wouldn’t have any worries now, and whether there are 3% additional costs in 2023 doesn’t matter in the end.
Most price lock clauses also only apply with restrictions, usually to factors over which the utility company has direct influence. Purchasing prices generally do not count.
You mean factors like taxes etc. The company can (as recently with the VAT reduction to 16%) and will pass these on. Increased procurement prices are the company’s personal bad luck and must not lead to price increases. That is not permitted—no matter where. Apart from that, every reputable company that enters into price locks has concluded supply contracts for many years and is currently not affected by price increases for its existing customers. Of course, there are always unscrupulous companies that cheat, but there are always bad apples.
It has little to do with stupidity/laziness.
In this respect, it is indeed stupidity/laziness. A contract from mid-2020 would mean complete peace until mid-2022. Apart from that, the gas costs would also be lower than in the basic supply tariff, which is per se already one of the most expensive tariffs.