Gas price: cover could relieve consumers noticeably - but for the Treasury's expensive
Created: 09/29/2022, 13:36
By: Patricia Huber
A gas price cap is intended to relieve consumers.
There are two models in the room.
But no matter which model wins the race, it will be quite expensive for the taxpayer.
Berlin – More and more gas suppliers are increasing their prices.
Existing customers get up to 300 percent more - for new customers the increase is even up to 452 percent.
For consumers, who are already suffering from high food costs, this means another noticeable financial burden.
The federal government would therefore now like to intervene and remedy the situation with a gas price cap.
Gas price: cover could cost the state up to 36.5 billion euros
A retail price is to be set for a certain quantity of gas.
Suppliers may then no longer demand more from consumers for this amount.
However, if the purchase price for the supplier rises above this price, the state pays the difference.
That could cost the Treasury dearly, as
Der Spiegel
reports.
According to calculations by the Hans Böckler Foundation, the gas price cap could cost between 15.6 and 36.5 billion euros in the coming year, depending on how it is structured.
First gas price cap model: These heights are in the room
The actual costs therefore depend on the model of the gas price cap.
In the first model calculated by the foundation, a so-called basic social quota of 5000 kilowatt hours (kWh) would be capped.
For each additional person in the household there would then be another 5000 kWh with a limited price on top.
According to the calculations, the price cap could be either 14 cents or 10 cents per kWh.
With the 14-cent limit, a three-person household would save around 1,024 euros in the coming year.
At 10 cents, it would even save 1383 euros, explains
Der Spiegel
.
With this basic quota, the savings incentive would not be lost.
Because if you consume more than 5000 kWh, you would have to pay the higher price for it again.
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Second gas price cap model: cost limit for the previous year's consumption
However, there is also a second model that the scientists propose.
This model would be useful if there were difficulties in determining the number of people living in the household.
With the second model, households could simply get 80 percent of their previous year's consumption at a capped price.
A three-person household would be relieved by around 2316 euros - significantly more than with the first model.
For the state, however, this means significantly higher costs.
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The second model also has another problem.
Because a millionaire with a villa and a gas-heated pool would be just as relieved as small, low-income households.
To prevent this, the researchers at the Hans Böckler Foundation propose limiting the capped price to a maximum consumption of 15,500 kWh.
However, one thing is clear: In any case, the gas price cap will be expensive for the state.
(ph)