Gas levy: What's next?

Created: 09/26/2022, 13:54

The next bill for gas threatens to be very expensive for millions of households.

(Iconic image) © Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON (imago

Before it has a financial impact on consumers, SPD Secretary General Kevin Kühnert wants to abolish the gas levy.

Berlin - "In our view, nobody in Germany should have to pay this levy, not even temporarily," said Kühnert on Monday.

There should be no additional burden on households.

The federal government still has a week to find another solution to stabilize gas importers.

Kühner, who was born in Berlin, was reacting to a statement by Green Party leader Omid Nouripour, who assumes that the surcharge will first come into force on October 1st, but will then be overturned again.

Kühnert emphasized that fast, pragmatic action is needed between the federal ministries and not further blame and discussions about “who should submit what and when”.

It's about billions.

«This money can be found.

This money will be found, »said Kühnert.

Germany is an economically strong country and has plenty of budgetary leeway to work with.

All three coalition partners SPD, Greens and FDP now want to abolish the gas surcharge, which would mean price increases for all gas customers.

How the gas importers can be supported instead is open.

They have come under pressure because Russia is practically no longer supplying gas to Germany and they have to find replacements at comparatively high prices in order to fulfill their contracts.

The federal government is striving for a quick solution

The federal government has announced a quick solution to the future of the controversial gas surcharge.

A government spokesman said on Monday in Berlin that the structure of an overall solution would become visible "very quickly" and in a very orderly process.

He referred to the gas surcharge and a planned gas price brake.

A commission on such a brake met and worked very well.

A spokeswoman for Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said gas prices had to fall and security of supply had to be guaranteed.

There must be an “orderly” solution.

The gas surcharge should come into force at the beginning of October, but payments on account will not be due until the end of October.

The surcharge would mean significant price increases for all gas customers.

Due to the lack of Russian gas deliveries via the Nord Stream pipeline, importers such as Uniper have to procure replacement quantities on the market at greatly increased prices, but have not yet been able to pass them on to customers.

This is to be done via the allocation.

The federal government had decided on a state rescue package for Uniper, and the group is now to be nationalized.

Uniper is Germany's most important gas importer.

also read

Putin's gas plan about to end: Russia's blackmail is unlikely to work

Luxury life with a pension of 1000 euros: 74-year-old lives the dream

According to earlier information from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, gas importers claimed costs of 34 billion euros for the levy period up to the beginning of April 2024.