The government is planning to reduce the energy tax on fuels to the European minimum for a limited period of three months in order to relieve commuters and companies. The coalition also wants to introduce a ticket for 9 euros per month for local public transport nationwide for 90 days. The countries should be given the appropriate funds for this.
One-time bonus for child benefit
In order to cushion particular hardships for families, a one-time bonus of 100 euros is to be paid out to the family benefits office as soon as possible for each child in addition to the child benefit. The bonus is offset against the child allowance.
The one-time payment of EUR 100 for recipients of social benefits that has already been decided is to be increased by EUR 100 per person. It was also said that with the current energy prices, it can be assumed that by January 1, 2023, the standard requirements will reflect the high price increases and will therefore be increased appropriately.
In order to enable a simple and unbureaucratic way for direct payments to citizens in the future, the federal government wants to develop a payment method via the tax ID for climate money before the end of 2022.
Federal government plans heat pump offensive
The coalition also agreed on measures to increase energy efficiency. Among other things, this should help to reduce dependence on gas, oil and coal from Russia because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
From 2024, every newly installed heating system is to run on 65 percent renewable energy – in the coalition agreement this was previously planned for January 1, 2025. The government also wants to create the framework for property owners to be able to replace their heating systems that are more than 20 years old. In addition, a major heat pump offensive is to be launched. Green leader Ricarda Lang spoke of phasing out gas heating.
Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had called more efforts to save energy as a condition for a relief package. For example, he described gas heaters as a “discontinued model”. FDP leader Christian Lindner sees the agreement reached by the coalition leaders as proof of the government’s ability to act. “The coalition is convinced that we have to protect people and the economy in the short term and for a limited period in view of these enormous price increases,” said the finance minister.
A coalition working group had previously failed in several rounds to reach an agreement on relief in response to rising prices. However, a “broad basis” has been developed not only for new relief, but also for decisive measures to strengthen energy independence, it said.
The coalition had agreed on an initial relief package in February 2022 before the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Among other things, this provided for the billions in EEG surcharge to be abolished via the electricity bill from July 2022. This was previously planned for early 2023. The package also involved an increase in the commuter allowance for long-distance commuters. (With material from the dpa.)