The tank discount will expire in the middle of next week. Consumer advocates and ADAC fear that mineral oil companies could enrich themselves unjustly.
Shortly before the expiry of the so-called tank discount, the ADAC and the consumer protection centers warned against abuse of the tax relief by mineral oil companies. “Obviously, the mineral oil companies are already creating a certain cushion again,” said ADAC transport president Gerhard Hillebrand of the “Bild am Sonntag” with a view to fuel prices rising again.
The head of the Federal Association of Consumers, Ramona Pop, also criticized that competition in the fuel market only works to a limited extent. “The cartel office must therefore check carefully whether the mineral oil companies are not unjustly enriching themselves and, if necessary, imposing fines.”
The “tank discount” expires on the night of August 31st to September 1st. This temporary reduction in energy tax to the minimum level specified by the EU has been in effect since June 1, together with the 9-euro ticket, in order to relieve consumers of energy prices. Recently, according to the ADAC, fuel prices had risen again slightly – after a week-long downturn and short-term stagnation.
Price increase could last
The prices could rise again significantly when the measure ends – arithmetically by around 35 cents for petrol and 17 cents for diesel. However, the ADAC does not initially expect a sudden increase, because petrol station operators also buy cheaper thanks to the discount. It can therefore be assumed that they will fill up their fuel tanks before September 1st and continue to sell petrol and diesel at a reduced price in order to gain a competitive advantage.
Hans-Joachim Rühlemann, CEO of the North-East Association of Garages and Gas Stations, on the other hand, according to “Bild am Sonntag”, expects prices to jump by 35 cents (petrol) and 17 cents (diesel) at midnight. “When the tank discount was introduced, the gas stations soon had to sell the fuel they bought at higher prices cheaper,” said Rühlemann. “They will now compensate for these losses by selling the cheaper fuel they bought at normal prices.” According to the newspaper, the President of the Cartel Office, Andreas Mundt, said that “we will take a very close look at what happens if the tax reduction ends on September 1”.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
