How the gas levy hits: The most important questions and answers

Created: 08/15/2022, 19:51

By: Hannes Koch

The gas levy is initially around 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour.

(Iconic image) © Bernd Weißbrod/dpa

The new gas surcharge affects companies and private households.

You can now at least roughly estimate how expensive it will be.

Munich – The gas surcharge is coming.

And now?

The first calculations show that private households have to reckon with 20 or 40 euros more per month if they heat, shower or cook with natural gas.

The levy is a consequence of the reduced gas flows from Russia.

Here are the most important questions and answers.

Gas surcharge: How high is the surcharge?

The levy is initially around 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour.

Thrifty households with an annual consumption of 10,000 kilowatt hours pay around 240 euros more, or 20 euros a month.

Families who need 20,000 kilowatt hours have to reckon with around 480 euros per year, 40 euros per month.

The levy is recalculated every three months and can increase or decrease.

In addition, there may be VAT of 19 percent, with the federal government negotiating an exception with the EU Commission so that it does not have to be levied.

The surcharge comes on top of the gas prices, which are rising anyway.

These are the bigger problem.

Even for frugal private households, they can currently amount to 150 euros per month.

An increase to 300 per month is not unlikely.

In view of this, Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and the traffic light saw anger and warnings from many sides on Monday.

When is the gas surcharge due?

It will apply from next October.

But it may take a little while for the utilities to bill you.

"The surcharge will probably be reported for the first time in November/December with a slight delay," according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The real estate owners feel that first.

For many tenants, the allocation as part of the utility bill could only arrive next year.

The regulations apply in principle until September 2024.

Who has to pay the new gas surcharge?

All households and businesses that use natural gas for heating, cooking, heating water or producing goods.

also read

Pension: These cohorts are allowed to retire before the age of 67

Concession to Putin: Erdogan is undermining the West's most powerful sanctions

Why is the gas surcharge levied?

In connection with the attack on Ukraine, Russia is supplying much less natural gas than agreed.

Local importers therefore have to buy fuel on the world market at much higher costs, while still selling the fuel to the gas suppliers at previously fixed low prices.

These scissors threaten the existence of some importers.

"If the losses are too great, there is a risk that these companies will go bankrupt and with it the collapse of the gas supply for private and commercial consumers as a whole," said the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Therefore, the levy decided by the traffic light coalition covers the additional costs of the importers and distributes them to the customers.

In practice, this is organized by Trading Hub Europe (THE), a joint subsidiary of the gas importers.

The Federal Network Agency,

Which companies benefit from the gas surcharge?

"A total of twelve gas importers have reported their replacement procurement costs to THE," explained the Ministry of Economic Affairs, "they are claiming costs of 34 billion euros." THE did not publish a list of recipients.

Gas levy: Do companies make profits despite the levy?

Most of the money will probably go to Uniper, the largest German gas importer.

He is currently making high losses because of Russia, which is why the federal government is supporting him.

In principle, however, it seems conceivable that gas importers will be in the red with their business in Russia, while posting profits in other business areas.

This is the case with RWE (electricity) and Shell (petrol).

These two have voluntarily waived the contribution.

Nothing is known about other, possibly similar examples.

Gas surcharge: How does the government want to help households?

Extensive relief has already been decided.

In the near future, for example, all employees who are subject to tax will receive a state energy price subsidy of 300 euros, which, however, must be taxed.

The green electricity levy was abolished, and the child benefit was increased once by 100 euros.

Depending on the individual constellation, the state relief can reach 600, 700 or more euros per private household.

Nevertheless, they will not cover the entire additional costs for energy and living expenses.

Low-income citizens in particular are struggling.

An additional relief package is therefore under discussion – it is unclear whether and how quickly it will come.

For the beginning of 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has announced higher housing allowances for low earners and the new citizen allowance (previously Hartz IV).

FDP boss and Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, on the other hand, is propagating a tax cut.

What economic consequences can be expected from the gas surcharge?

"Together with the expiring tank discount and the elimination of the nine-euro ticket, the increase in gas prices can lead to double-digit inflation rates in autumn," said Jens Südekum, an economist at the University of Düsseldorf.

The purchasing power of private households then falls.

This could contribute to the local economy slipping into a recession in the winter months, explained Commerzbank chief economist Jörg Krämer.

Hannes Koch