Temperatures are falling, gas prices are rising: these are not a good prospect for the coming winter.
The tenants' association warns of an explosion in ancillary costs.
Calls for solutions at the federal level are loud.
Dresden - Saxony's energy minister Wolfram Günther attributes the rise in electricity and gas prices to the slow expansion of renewable energies. "We would not have the increased prices if there was an appropriate pace," said the Green politician on Thursday of the German Press Agency in Dresden. CO2-free electricity is not only cleaner, but also much cheaper than fossil electricity. For years, however, the expansion of renewables has been slowed, "nationwide as well as in Saxony". The left called on politicians to take countermeasures and called for a cap. Meanwhile, consumers in Saxony have to be prepared for rising prices for heating costs, for example.
SachsenEnergie, for example, raised its gas prices for private customers and small businesses by 65 cents per kilowatt hour on October 1, the company said when asked. That corresponds to approximately monthly additional costs of 6.50 euros with a consumption of around 12,000 kilowatt hours per year. SachsenEnergie supplies customers in Dresden and Eastern Saxony, for example. "There has never been a price development on the energy market as it can be observed at the moment," said a spokeswoman. The extent to which this will lead to new price adjustments is currently being examined.
The Leipziger Stadtwerke are currently calculating the prices for the coming year. They should be up in mid-November. Due to the high procurement costs and rising expenses, an increase is to be expected for gas, according to a spokesman. “The developments in the market decide on our further course of action,” says Chemnitz energy supplier one. The changes for network charges, taxes and surcharges would not be known until November. Then further steps should be discussed.
At the regional association of the German Tenants' Association, the increased energy costs are not yet a big issue in the consultations. "This is because the costs in the current discounts usually do not yet play a role," said a spokeswoman. At the same time, the tenants would be made aware of the problem. The federal association was concerned. "If the new government does not take countermeasures, there is a risk of ancillary costs exploding," criticized director Melanie Weber-Moritz.
The left in the Saxon state parliament is calling for energy prices to be capped and households to be relieved by lowering energy, electricity and VAT.
"Energy must not become a luxury good," said the parliamentary group's energy policy spokesman, Marco Böhme.
The price explosion falls at a time when many people are struggling with short-time work and unemployment due to the corona.
Poor households should receive direct energy cost subsidies.
The CDU member of the state parliament, Stephan Meyer, called on Energy Minister Günther to work with the federal government to ensure that gas supplies are replenished as quickly as possible and that capacities such as the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline are used for this purpose.
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Greens are calling for more renewable energies to be expanded
The Green parliamentary group has called for the new black-red-yellow state government to be more committed to climate protection and sees considerable job opportunities for Saxony-Anhalt in this.
The country should become climate-neutral by 2035, said Greens parliamentary group leader Cornelia Lüddemann on Friday in the state parliament.
There must be binding interim targets for the years 2025 and 2030.
Greens are calling for more renewable energies to be expanded
Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) described Russia as a "reliable and contractually loyal partner" in the discussion about increased gas prices. "It is now even clearer than before that we need Nord Stream 2 - just as we need any additional import infrastructure," he told the German Press Agency. “The major German natural gas importers have confirmed to me that the import contracts of Russian suppliers will also be fulfilled. The gas deliveries are made in accordance with the contract. What is ordered is delivered. ”Russia makes a major contribution to security of supply in Germany and Europe.
For Saxony, Germany and Europe, the partnership with Russia is part of the solution to the energy price problem and not the cause. “We need Russia - especially against the background of global competition for security of supply with energy sources. Nord Stream 2 and long-term supply contracts can help us to prevent future energy crises like the one we have today, ”says Kretschmer.
Energy Minister Günther, on the other hand, wants less dependence on fossil fuels.
Clean energy generation from sun and wind must be "accelerated rapidly", he emphasized.
At the same time, the minister showed his understanding of the burdens on businesses and households.
The federal government must lower the electricity tax and the EEG surcharge as soon as possible.
The income from CO2 pricing would have opened up new leeway here.
In Germany, since the beginning of the year, 25 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is produced when diesel, petrol, heating oil and natural gas are burned has been due.
In addition, Günther suggested repaying the income from the CO2 price per capita to the people.
dpa
