SPD boss Klingbeil: prevent "indecent free riding" in the gas levy

Created: 08/29/2022, 09:21 am

By: Patricia Huber

The gas surcharge causes a dispute in the traffic light.

In view of the surging criticism, Economics Minister Robert Habeck wants to improve.

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Berlin – SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil is pushing for corrections to the controversial gas surcharge.

There are undesirable developments, he said on Monday in the ARD morning magazine.

The gas surcharge was justified to avert insolvencies in the energy supply, and that was correct.

"But now we see that companies that make billions in profits are applying for this gas levy."

That was "indecent free riding", criticized Klingbeil.

It's not possible to make billions in profits and then want to get billions in tax money on top of that,

Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) is now examining whether this can be changed politically, otherwise the ordinance would have to be reworked, said Klingbeil.

"If the will is there, you will be able to correct this undesirable development."

Gas surcharge: This is how it should save energy companies

The levy from Habeck's ministry is intended to compensate for the sharp rise in costs for large gas importers due to Russian supply cuts in order to protect them from bankruptcy and the energy system from collapsing.

All gas customers should pay an additional 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour from October.

It is criticized that companies that are doing well economically could also benefit.

That is why the federal government is now examining corrections, which is legally complicated.

Habeck has promised a change in the planned gas surcharge.