The amount of the gas levy is certain: Habeck declares “bitter medicine” – Scholz makes promises

Created: 08/16/2022 05:17

Economics Minister Robert Habeck on Monday in his statement on the new gas levy.

© Britta Pedersen/dpa

Many people are not yet feeling the full impact of the rapid increase in energy costs.

But the gas levy is coming: Minister Habeck gives details.

Update from August 15, 4:25 p.m.:

The amount of the gas surcharge is fixed: 2.419 cents per kilowatt hour.

Previously, there had been speculation about significantly higher additional costs.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) nevertheless prepared the Germans for burdens in a statement in the afternoon - and, like Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), thought aloud about relief.

"Germany had developed a business model that was largely based on dependence on cheap Russian gas - and thus also on a dependence on a president who disregards international law, who is a declared enemy of liberal democracy and its values," said Habeck.

"This model failed and it will not come back." The Vice Chancellor described the levy as a "bitter medicine".

At the same time, he said: "With the levy, we are ensuring security of supply in Germany."

If Finance Minister Christian Lindner's request to the EU not to have to add VAT to the levy is rejected by Brussels, "compensation mechanisms" will be created.

Scholz even assured the citizens of another relief package in view of the gas levy.

"We don't leave anyone alone with the higher costs," said the SPD politician on Twitter - weeks ago he had promised boldly: "You'll never walk alone".

At the same time, Scholz admitted on Monday: "It's getting more expensive - there's no getting around it.

Energy prices continue to rise.”

The surcharge is intended to prevent the insolvency of gas suppliers tied to fixed consumer contracts and thus a collapse of the gas network.

For a family household with a consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours, it would mean additional costs of 576 euros per year, and for a single household with a consumption of 5,000 kilowatt hours, 144 euros.

However, not all consumers need these quantities.

On Monday, the verdi trade union expected a "normal consumption" of 12,000 kilowatt hours for a family household of four - and called for a price cap at the 2021 level for this amount of consumption.

Gas surcharge in Germany: network operators name the amount

First report from August 15, 12:45 p.m.:

Berlin – Gas customers in Germany will be faced with significantly higher prices from autumn.

The amount of the state gas surcharge will be 2.419 cents per kilowatt hour from October, as reported by Trading Hub Europe, a joint venture of the gas transmission system operators, on Monday in Ratingen.

In order to support gas importers, customers in Germany will have to pay significantly more for their gas from autumn.

If you have an annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours, you will pay several hundred euros more per year in the future.

According to calculations by the comparison portal Check24, a household with this annual consumption will face additional costs of almost 600 euros.

For a household with an annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours, the dpa news agency calculates an additional burden of 484 euros per year plus VAT from October.

However, the federal government wants to prevent this from becoming due.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has asked for an exception at EU level so that Germany does not have to levy VAT on the state gas levy.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had promised the citizens additional relief in view of the sharp rise in energy prices.

According to the Chancellor, nobody will be left alone.

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

Traffic light coalition: The Scholz cabinet at a glance

View photo gallery

Gas surcharge will appear on customer bills from November or December

The Ministry of Economics recently assumed a range of 1.5 to 5 cents per kilowatt hour.

With a value of 2.419 cents per kilowatt hour, the increase is in the middle of the estimates.

The levy applies from the beginning of October.

According to the ministry, it will not appear immediately on the invoices, but with a slight delay.

For reasons of consumer protection, there are notice periods in the Energy Industry Act of four to six weeks that must be observed.

Therefore, the surcharge will probably appear on the bills for the first time in November/December.

The Economics Ministry sees the levy as a result of the Ukraine war.

This has drastically exacerbated the already tense situation on the energy markets.

Since mid-June, Russia has been unpredictably reducing its gas import volumes to Germany in order to create an artificial energy shortage and drive up prices.

This "external shock" is particularly affecting Germany, which has so far been heavily dependent on cheap gas from Russia.

Many gas deliveries from Russia, which had previously been contractually guaranteed, were cancelled.

Gas importers, however, have delivery obligations to their customers, especially to municipal utilities.

The importers can only meet these delivery obligations by replacing the lost quantities from Russia by purchasing much more expensive quantities on the short-term market.

So far, these additional costs cannot be passed on

.