Tank discount: Fuel will be cheaper from June – Federal Council approves reduction in energy tax 

Created: 05/21/2022, 05:01

By: Christian Stör

Politicians want to mitigate the consequences of high energy prices for passengers - with billions from the state budget.

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On Friday, the Federal Council finally discussed numerous legislative projects of the traffic light coalition to relieve the citizens.

The measures are intended to bring financial relief in the areas of taxes, energy and transport and to relieve families and poorer people.

In addition to the 9-euro monthly ticket for June, July and August (see update from 11.40 a.m.), the countries have also cleared the way for the so-called tank discount.

After the Bundestag had already approved the law to reduce the energy tax on fuels the evening before.

Fuel will therefore be cheaper for three months from June.

The law lowers the energy tax for a period of three months to the minimum required under European law.

This makes petrol around 30 cents per liter cheaper and diesel around 14 cents per liter.

The federal government expects reduced tax revenues of 3.15 billion euros.

Now comes the tank discount.

(symbol photo) © Paul Zinken/dpa

Meanwhile, the petrol station industry warned of bottlenecks from June.

"That's why nobody should run their tank almost completely empty beforehand," warned the head of the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center, Wolfgang Schuldzinski.

The ADAC took the same line: "Drivers should proceed with a sense of proportion and have enough fuel in the tank so that they may not have to drive to the tank until a few days after the beginning of the month," explained the automobile club.

He warned that many gas stations will continue to sell fuel they bought in May at the old price in the first days of June.

Relief package 2022: 9-euro ticket - Federal Council agrees

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Despite criticism of the financing, the federal states gave the green light for the nine-euro ticket.

The Federal Council passed the corresponding law on Friday.

This means that public transport can be used throughout Germany in June, July and August for nine euros per month.

Regional trains are also included.

In Stuttgart, among other places, the 9-euro ticket can already be bought - thousands have already taken advantage of the bargain offer.

© Marijan Murat/dpa

Like the reduction in energy tax on petrol and diesel, which was limited to the same period, the ticket is part of the relief package that the federal government had promised in view of the sharp rise in energy and food prices.

The nine-euro ticket is also linked to the hope that more people will switch from cars to buses and trains.

To finance the cheap ticket, the federal government is providing 2.5 billion euros in the form of so-called regionalization funds.

That's not really enough for the countries.

They are also calling for permanently higher support for local public transport.

The chamber of states passed a resolution on this.

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+++ 11.30 a.m .:

After repeated threats of a no in the Bundesrat, Bavaria will now apparently agree to the 9-euro monthly ticket.

“The €9 ticket can come.

Bavaria will agree in the Bundesrat after the federal government has improved the financial support for the municipalities," said Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) on Twitter.

He added: “But one thing is clear: long-term attractive offers are important so that people can switch to public transport.

The ticket must not be a flash in the pan. ”However, Söder did not initially write what the financial improvement would look like.

Other countries also signaled support.

At the Bundesrat meeting, Schleswig-Holstein and Bremen announced that they would agree.

The vote in the state chamber is the last political hurdle for the 9-euro monthly tickets.

Federal Council discusses nine-euro ticket and fuel discount

First report from Friday, May 20th, 10 a.m.:

Berlin – On Friday (May 20th), the Bundesrat will finally discuss numerous legislative projects of the traffic light coalition to relieve the burden on citizens.

On the agenda are measures intended to bring financial relief in the areas of taxes, energy and transport.

There are also reliefs for families.

Relief package: does the Federal Council agree to the 9-euro ticket?

Late on Thursday evening, the Bundestag passed two resolutions that are intended to make refueling and thus driving a car cheaper for a period of three months, as well as trips by bus and train - provided that the Bundesrat also votes for the 9-euro ticket, the tank discount and its financing .

The federal states had criticized the planned measures in advance.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), however, emphasized that these measures would benefit the citizens - "directly, quickly and purposefully".

Fuel prices at a gas station.

(symbol photo) © Jens Büttner/dpa

According to the plans of the SPD, Greens and FDP, the 9-euro monthly ticket for local and regional transport will be available in June, July and August.

The loss of income is to be compensated for by the federal government – ​​this is what the law passed by the Bundestag provides for.

However, the planned subsidy of 2.5 billion euros does not go far enough for some countries, which is why the necessary approval from the Federal Council is still pending.

Relief package: tank discount planned

For the same three-month period, the Bundestag decided to reduce the energy tax on motor fuels to the minimum permitted in the EU.

In the case of petrol, the tax burden is temporarily reduced by 29.55 cents per liter - including VAT even by almost 35.2 cents.

With diesel, there is a minus of a good 14 cents per liter or 16.7 cents with VAT.

Despite criticism, the law passed the Bundestag without dissenting votes, the opposition factions abstained.

CDU MP Johannes Steiniger said the instrument was correct, but the three-month period was too short.

Even at the end of August, when the measure expires, the Ukraine conflict will probably continue, and with it high petrol prices.

Relief package: Further planned measures

• Energy price flat rate of 300 euros, which is to be paid out to employed persons in the autumn

• Increase in the commuter allowance and the so-called basic allowance

• Reduction of the so-called EEG surcharge to reduce electricity prices

• Special payments for families

Chancellor Scholz meanwhile complained about a "price increase caused by Russia".

Above all, people with small and middle incomes felt every day that “not only the fuel at the pump has become more expensive as a result of the war, but also food – from bread to cooking oil”.

(cs with epd/dpa)