Electricity price: no consumer relief for electricity tax – broad criticism

The electricity tax for everyone – this has promised the CDU, CSU and SPD in the coalition agreement. But this relief for private households is nothing. The background is a decision by the Federal Cabinet – with reference to household constraints. There is criticism of not reducing electricity tax for everyone – and there is also resentment in the coalition.

These relief should exist

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) announced on Tuesday when he was presented by his budget draft billion -out relief for energy prices, which should take effect from January 1, 2026. On the one hand, it is about relieving consumers from the costs of the gas storage levy.

Relief in the network charges are also planned. The federal government wants to take on a significantly greater proportion of the costs of the network expansion. The expansion of the power grids is financed through the network charges as part of the electricity price. The network fees have risen sharply in recent years.

What is planned for electricity tax

For electricity tax, it was said that the lowering of electricity tax for industry, agricultural and forestry was stabilized. Certain energy -intensive companies are already completely exempt from electricity tax. For companies in the manufacturing trade, the reduction in electricity tax expires to the EU minimum next year. A spokesman Klingbeils said that this also affects medium -sized companies.

However, there was no question that the electricity tax for everyone would be reduced to the European minimum. Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) said at the day of the industry in Berlin, here, so to speak, coalition contract meets financial possibility and reality. The government did what there was the greatest pressure – namely to strengthen Germany and secure the competitiveness of companies.

From circles of the Federal Ministry of Economics it was said that the finance ministry responsible for the tax had not seen any further financial scope. The Ministry of Economic Affairs would have liked to extend the relief to consumers during electricity tax.

The coalition agreement states that companies and consumers should be relieved of at least five cents per kilowatt hour. The speaker Klingbeils said that a relief of two to three cents was achieved in a first step. He added: The finance minister had made it very clear, which “can currently be financed and financially responsible”.

Ramona Pop, director of the Federal Consumer Center, said: “Households in Germany pay the highest electricity prices in a European comparison. Relief for people in energy prices was one of the central election promises of the coalition parties.” Against this background, it is unacceptable that consumers should drop empty when reducing electricity tax.

Martin Sabel, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Heat Pump, said: “Anyone who wants to strengthen acceptance and credibility of the energy transition must not row back on central promises.” Background: Lower electricity costs could make the purchase of heat pumps more attractive – as well as buying an electric car.

Economy: decision fatal

Criticism also comes from business associations. Crafts President Jörg Dittrich said that not to implement the reduction in electricity tax for everyone was a blow to the account for medium -sized companies. According to DIHK President Peter Adrian, the chambers of industrial and commerce reports from outraged calls from companies that have firmly expected a falling electricity tax.

“Nobody understands why despite the planned record debt, this already very small but very important relief should not be possible.” Hundreds of thousands of companies would have rely on relief for energy costs due to the electricity tax cut. “As it is now planned, it only arrives at a fraction of the companies in Germany.” That is fatal.

The last word not spoken yet?

There is also criticism within the coalition. Union faction leader Jens Spahn (CDU) emphasized: “Our goal remains to reduce electricity tax for everyone and permanently to the minimum.” That is also in the sense of the energy transition. “We will now advise how quickly more is.”

CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann said that a one-sided lowering of electricity tax could not be done with the CSU. In the “Bild” newspaper, CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann demanded that the electricity tax had to come for everyone.

The draft budget was initially decided by the cabinet, it is now going into the parliamentary consultations. Changes in electricity tax are still possible.