In view of the high electricity prices compared internationally, a debate has been ongoing in the traffic light coalition for months about easing the burden on companies in Germany. What’s next?
The traffic light groups want to discuss how to provide relief for companies when it comes to electricity prices. Green party deputy Andreas Audretsch told the German Press Agency: “Electricity prices have to come down.”
It is good that there is now momentum in the debate and that Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) is also making concrete proposals. That is a good basis for discussions. “We are already working on good options in the traffic light groups and will deepen the discussions in the coming week.”
Warning about churn of production
In the coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, a debate has been going on for months about easing the burden on companies in view of the high electricity prices in Germany compared to other countries. Companies fear for their competitiveness. Associations warn of an increasing migration of production abroad.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), the Green parliamentary group and the SPD parliamentary group want a state-subsidized industrial electricity price for a transitional phase – the FDP is against it, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejects a “permanent subsidy of electricity prices with a watering can”, as he said said. The FDP proposes a reduction in electricity tax.
Peak compensation is scheduled to expire at the end of 2023
Energy-intensive companies currently benefit from the so-called peak compensation for electricity taxes. According to current plans, this relief is scheduled to expire at the end of 2023. Lindner had told “Welt am Sonntag” that the Bundestag could advise extending the peak compensation for another year – “if funds for counter-financing can be found elsewhere.” Habeck would welcome an extension of the peak compensation, as a spokeswoman said.
Audretsch said: “We need a fair path that works quickly and at the same time represents a bridge to the era of cheap renewable energies. Solar and wind power are unbeatably cheap and are the future of energy supply. Affordable energy was the goal of our electricity and gas price cap. We can build on that. Direct contracts between companies and electricity producers can also be a way to bring cheap electricity directly to companies.”
Source: Stern
