Criticism of the gas levy: the head of the association speaks of "botch" - Spahn warns of a second levy

Created: 08/10/2022 11:18 am

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

The gas levy has been decided - but numerous questions have still not been clarified.

There has been sharp criticism of this from several quarters.

Berlin – In view of the high natural gas prices, the federal government is intervening in the market.

The ordinance on the state gas levy, which will lead to price increases for gas customers from autumn, has come into force.

This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Economics on Tuesday in Berlin.

The ordinance is valid until September 30, 2024.

Gas surcharge: "You could also speak very casually of botch"

The surcharge should take effect from the beginning of October and benefit gas suppliers such as Uniper, who have to buy replacement gas volumes from Russia at high prices for the missing, cheaper gas volumes.

So far, however, you cannot pass on these additional costs; this is to be done via the gas surcharge.

Uniper was in financial turmoil, the federal government had decided on a billion-euro rescue package.

According to the ministry, the amount of the surcharge will be announced by the so-called market area manager on August 15th - this is Trading Hub Europe (THE), an association of network companies.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had mentioned a range of 1.5 to 5 cents per kilowatt hour.

This could lead to significant additional costs for gas customers.

It is still unclear whether VAT will also be due on the surcharge.

According to the ministry, the amount of the gas levy will be announced on August 15th.

(Archive image) © IMAGO/Christian Ohde

It is also unclear whether customers with long-term contracts can be asked to pay - or purchasers of gas district heating.

Ingbert Liebing, General Manager of the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU), criticizes the structure of the gas levy sharply: “When introducing the gas procurement levy – which we fundamentally welcome – avoidable mistakes happened.

You could also speak very casually of botch," he told the

.

Gas surcharge: criticism and demands from the opposition

Criticism also comes from the opposition: “The gas levy that has now been decided in the Federal Cabinet has significant technical errors.

It is also not fair, ”said the deputy head of the Union faction, Jens Spahn, of the German Press Agency.

People on low incomes have been waiting for real relief for months.

That doesn't go together.

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The second planned levy, the storage levy, would mean even more burdens for consumers.

"If the traffic light does not improve quickly here, we will apply to the German Bundestag for the repeal of this regulation on the gas surcharge," said the CDU politician.

The second gas surcharge is intended to ensure compliance with the filling level specifications

The second levy or gas storage levy is intended to reimburse THE for the costs it incurs to ensure security of supply, for example for the purchase of gas.

The aim is to comply with the fill level specifications for the gas storage tanks.

They should be at least 95 percent full by November 1st.

The amount of the levy is still unknown.

According to THE, the surcharge will be determined for the first time on October 1, 2022.

According to paragraph 35e of the Energy Industry Act, the costs are to be passed on to the “balancing group managers” “in a non-discriminatory manner and in a transparent process”.

The balancing group managers are the gas suppliers who organize the gas flow for a specific market area.