Energy: Merz provides the prospect of electricity tax

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised a solution in the dispute over electricity tax before meeting the coalition tips. “If we can do more for private households, we will do that,” said the CDU leader in the ARD talk show “Maischberger”. “We’ll take a look at that again.” The Ministry of Finance and the Chancellery worked on it. “We do what we can do, what the household gives.” On Wednesday, the tops from the CDU, CSU and SPD meet for the coalition committee.

The fact that electricity tax on January 1, 2026 – as announced in the coalition agreement – should not be reduced for everyone and thus also for all companies and for private households, has triggered broad criticism, also within the Union. Criticism came from Union faction leader Jens Spahn and NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst. Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) defended the course in electricity tax and referred to household constraints.

According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, a reduction in electricity tax for all consumers would cost around 5.4 billion euros in the coming year.

Merz also announced that the coalition committee should also talk about the work of the coalition. There is certainly improvement potential in communication. “I also take that on my cap.” Perhaps you should have spoken a little better with your own political groups beforehand, he said with a view to electricity tax.