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In addition to the previous measures, another energy package has been put together that will cost more than 2 billion euros, as Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) and Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) announced on Sunday.
The domestic energy package provides for a 50 percent increase in the commuter allowance and a fourfold increase in the commuter euro by June 30, 2023. A one-time negative taxable amount of 100 euros is planned for negative tax recipients. In total, this should bring relief of over 400 million euros.
Furthermore, public transport should become cheaper. The government is making EUR 150 million available this year for price reductions and an expansion of the range. This is intended to create an incentive, if possible, to switch to public transport.
Since gas and electricity prices in particular “represent a massive additional burden in everyday life and for companies”, the government is reducing specific energy taxes (natural gas tax and electricity tax) by around 90 percent by June 30, 2023. This is associated with relief totaling around EUR 900 million.
The antitrust attorney (Ministry of Justice) was also instructed to control the oil industry and companies in the oil/diesel/gasoline value chain. A statement of facts is also sent to the Federal Competition Authority (BWB).
The package also provides for an “agricultural diesel cost adjustment based on the nEHS system to the extent currently permitted under European law”, also with a time limit until June 30, 2023.
Rising energy costs in public transport should also be compensated in order to prevent price increases, it said, with reference to free travel for schoolchildren, for example.
Domestic small and medium-sized businesses with high fuel costs – especially in the area of crafts and private companies (EPU) – were promised a fuel refund with a total volume of around 120 million euros. This measure is also limited to the end of June next year.
Liquidity support is also planned for companies, which is to take the form of a reduction in advance payments for income or corporation tax payments – limited until June 30, 2023.
The switch to alternative, decarbonized forms of drive in companies will be supported this year and next year with a total of 120 million euros.
Wind power and photovoltaic projects are funded with a total of 250 million euros as part of the investment offensive for energy independence.
Together with the previously decided package with a volume of 1.7 billion euros, the costs now total around 4 billion euros. This means that the relief in Austria in relation to the population is ten times as high as in neighboring Germany, where a package worth around 4 billion euros has also just been presented. While short-term measures such as temporary price caps are being taken in other EU countries, the federal government is taking “longer-term measures to react to the forecast inflation”.
Source: Nachrichten
