Creating incentives for the energy turnaround: This is intended to be the state government's support programs for photovoltaic systems such as the energy bonus.
In the case of a family in Bruck, this funding program did not create an incentive, but rather frustration - because only a certain part of the population is even eligible to apply.
Fürstenfeldbruck
- "The energy bonus is a fig leaf," says Martin Kerhsenfischer. In other words, the government can boast of promoting the energy transition. “In the end, there is not much behind it.” For Brucker, it is not so much about the amount of funding. 600 euros are actually more of a small incentive than a basis for possibly shaky financing. “But it's about the principle,” says Kerhsenfischer.
What happened? The Brucker and his wife Sigrid had given their house to their two children. "We had planned to regulate this for a long time," says Sigrid Kerhsenfischer. So now we went to the notary. Because the couple still want to spend their twilight years in the house, they were granted usufruct, which goes beyond a mere right of residence. "We are allowed to do practically anything with the house - apart from specifying it as security for a loan or selling it," says Martin Kerhsenfischer.
When the formalities were done, the Kerhsenfischers wanted to fulfill their wish for a photovoltaic system.
But that turned out to be the wrong order.
“We took advice, and it was said that there were also subsidies for the systems,” says the Brucker.
Without further ado, he applied for the energy bonus as part of the 10,000 house program - and received a rejection.
The reason for this lies in the funding guidelines.
Namely, they exclude large parts of the population.
The energy bonus
Only owners of a one- or two-family house can apply for the energy bonus.
On the other hand, beneficiaries, tenants, owners of apartment buildings, non-residential buildings or commercial operations, among others, are excluded.
No problem, thought the Kerhsenfischers.
Then the children can apply for the subsidy as new owners. "After all, they also benefit from such a system being put on the roof," says Sigrid Kerhsenfischer.
But then the next pitfall followed: the owner himself has to have his primary residence in the house for which the grant is being applied for.
The son and daughter of the couple from Bruck have long since moved out.
The Kerhsenfischers can ignore the subsidy.
In a letter to the Brucker, the Ministry of Economic Affairs justified these guidelines by stating that the funding pot was very limited and therefore the group of eligible applicants was restricted.
In addition, it is considered that the processing of funding cases in the ministry is too complicated if beneficiaries were to make structural changes to the property of other people.
"Formally, everything is certainly correct," says Martin Kerhsenfischer.
His enthusiasm for the funding program in this form is, however, limited: “Then the state can leave it the same before it just creates frustration among the citizens with the guidelines.
That would probably also be cheaper for taxpayers. "
The Kerhsenfischers will not let their photovoltaic system on the roof be spoiled.
“We'll build them anyway,” says Martin Kerhsenfischer.
With the consent of the two children, but without a subsidy from the energy bonus.
Also interesting:
Association of three districts: Energy agency is to replace Goal 21