Instead of cheap industrial tariffs
Liberals are campaigning for a reduction in electricity taxes
September 18, 2023, 12:59 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
There is agreement within the traffic lights that electricity prices in Germany are too high. However, the FDP stubbornly rejects a reduced industrial tariff. As an alternative, the Liberals see a reduction in electricity tax, which would not only benefit the economy. The Greens are not yet convinced of this.
In the dispute within the traffic light government over a state-subsidized industrial electricity price, the economic policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Reinhard Houben, reiterated his rejection of a subsidy only for the economy. Instead, his party is relying on a reduction in electricity tax in combination with an extension of the peak equalization, Houben told the Funke newspapers. “Everyone who currently pays the tax would benefit from a reduction in electricity tax – the student, the pensioner, the small shop, the medium-sized business. And the large company, if it is not already exempt from the electricity tax.” And in order to relieve the burden on those companies that benefit from peak compensation, this could be extended. Houben puts the costs at around eight billion euros per year. “About two billion for peak compensation, six billion for reducing electricity taxes.”
Houben continued that he considers the concern that broad relief could create the wrong incentives and that companies might invest less in energy efficiency and transformation to be “speculation.” “I assume that the companies affected, for whom this is a major cost factor, are always struggling to use less electricity. But there is still a danger.” An agreement on the matter depends on a “serious financing proposal”.
Greens want to set targets for industry
However, there are reservations within the traffic light coalition. Andreas Audretsch, deputy head of the Green parliamentary group in the Bundestag, told the Funke newspapers that guarantees must be linked to goals – “such as collective bargaining, location guarantees or plans for the conversion to new climate technologies. It’s about climate-neutral business, new value creation and good jobs .” First of all, it is good that there are different proposals on the table, explained Audretsch. “It’s worth having a constructive exchange on this. It’s an important question for many companies and their employees. It’s about future prosperity in Germany.”
The Green Economics Minister Robert Habeck recently signaled his approval of an extension of the peak compensation. Ampel circles said last week that the coalition was working intensively on a joint proposal.