Rising electricity prices: up to 450 euros less – the government could relieve consumers that easily
Created: 08/03/2022 05:39
By: Patricia Huber
Electricity costs have continued to rise over the past few months.
But the government could quickly and easily provide massive savings.
Munich/Berlin – The gas crisis is not only having an impact on natural gas prices, but also on electricity prices.
According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, natural gas accounted for 9.8 percent of net public electricity generation in Germany in July.
Therefore, in view of the tense energy situation, electricity prices have also continued to rise in recent months.
Electricity price: increases are expected for 1.9 million households
As the comparison
portal Check24
reports, the cost of electricity in July was 28 percent higher on average than in the same month last year.
A model household with a consumption of 5000 kilowatt hours paid an average of 1949 euros for electricity per year.
But the end of the price spiral is not yet in sight, because a number of suppliers have already announced substantial price increases.
According to
Check24
, around 1.9 million households are likely to be affected.
In order to give consumers financial support due to the high prices, the renewable energy levy (EEG levy) was abolished on July 1st.
Electricity providers are also obliged to pass the reduction on to their customers.
But the customers still didn't really notice much of it, explains
Check24
Energie Managing Director Billy Scheufler.
"The first reduction in the EEG surcharge at the turn of the year did not reach consumers due to the massive increase in purchase prices for electricity," he says.
Electricity price relief: This is how the government could remedy the situation
But the state would have even more options to relieve consumers.
For example by reducing the electricity tax or reducing the value added tax.
The following table shows which measures would save how much in model households.
Appropriate measures could thus still be used to absorb the price increase.
A family could save 459 euros and a single household 147 euros per year.
It should be noted that these figures are not the sum of the three reliefs listed in the table, as they are gross amounts.
In the case of lower prices despite the elimination of the EEG surcharge and the reduction in electricity tax, seven percent VAT must still be added.
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What must not be forgotten, however, is that a reduction in taxes would also have an impact on the federal budget.
This means that the state would lose a lot of revenue.
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The federal government has not yet commented on what further relief could look like and whether all electricity customers will receive additional relief.
(ph)