The draft was criticized because the money that end users have to pay also went to companies that are currently making good profits.
Due to the lack of deliveries from Russia, companies have to procure gas at high prices on the market in order to fulfill their supply contracts. According to Habeck, the levy is a kind of advance payment for these companies. End consumers are to pay 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour in order to stabilize the gas importers, who are under pressure, and to prevent insolvencies. This means that a four-person household has to pay around 480 euros per year excluding VAT.
legal hurdles
Habeck wanted to rule out “free riders” because it was “more than unsatisfactory” that companies could benefit from the levy that actually did not have to. The ministry must find a legally secure solution for this in September. According to a spokeswoman for the ministry, it is unclear whether changes to the law are necessary or whether there are constitutional hurdles. It is also unclear whether an amendment violates EU state aid law.
Twelve companies, including the ailing Uniper group, but also the Austrian OMV, had previously asserted claims of around 34 billion euros.
Source: Nachrichten
