The annual gas bill for individuals will increase by several hundred euros in Germany to allow importers to pass on the price increase, the government however promising to cushion the shock for the most modest households.
From October 1, companies will be able to charge 2.4 centimes more per kilowatt hour (KWh) of gas, the organization of network operators Trading Hub Europe (THE) announced on Monday.
Including VAT, 2.4 cents per KWh represent 600 euros more on the annual bill of a family with two children and an average consumption of 20,000 KWh.
The sum is 480 euros excluding taxes.
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The additional levy was put in place by the government until April 1, 2024 to support gas importers and distributors who have had to buy more expensively on the world market since the war in Ukraine and the drop in Russian deliveries.
It must be recalculated every three months.
A promised “new aid package”
“
The objective is to ensure the gas supply following the German and European energy crisis triggered by the Russian attack on Ukraine
,” the Ministry of Economy explained in a press release.
To cushion the shock, the surcharge "
must and will be accompanied by a new package of aid
", promised Minister Robert Habeck, with in particular an increase in housing aid.
The government “
will also find a way
” to exempt this additional levy from VAT, assured Robert Habeck.
Germany has already put in place aid totaling 30 billion euros to relieve individuals, including discounts at the pump or the popular 9-euro ticket that allows you to travel for a month in the public transport and regional trains.
However, the measure stops at the end of August.
Berlin has also planned to inject billions of euros into Uniper, the leading importer and storer of gas in Germany, hit hard by the drop in Russian gas deliveries since mid-June.
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Conversely, the RWE group announced that it was waiving its right to pass on the price increase through this surcharge.
“
RWE is a financially solid company, which is why we are renouncing until further notice to pass on our losses
” which “
we will absorb
”, explained boss Markus Krebber on Thursday during the presentation of the results.
In the first half, RWE posted a net profit of 1.6 billion euros.