The government takes a new measure against inflation. The aim is to cushion the rise in electricity grid fees. 80 percent of these are covered by the federal government. An average household saves 80 euros a year. Overall, the measures will cost up to 675 million euros.
As Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) emphasized today before the Council of Ministers, this is an important support, especially at this time, so it is a necessary step. Businesses will also benefit.
Firms and households badly affected
State Secretary Florian Tursky (ÖVP) emphasized that both companies and households would be hit hard by the enormous price increases. A company with an annual consumption of 500,000 kilowatt hours would be faced with additional costs of almost 4,700 euros. The federal government absorbs 3,150 euros of this.
The support instrument itself was created by the National Council in December. The extension decided today by the Council of Ministers is to be accepted by the National Council in January.
“Do not tolerate price gouging”
Gewessler meanwhile also made the suppliers responsible. What doesn’t work is being very quick to raise prices when tariffs go down, but then very slow to pass that on.
“We do not tolerate any price gouging on the backs of consumers.” Therefore, she very much welcomes the fact that E-Control and the Federal Competition Authority have now initiated appropriate examinations.