“Would Make It Happen”
Lindner: No EEG surcharge possible from summer
01/30/2022 11:02 am
The contribution of electricity customers to finance the EEG surcharge could be eliminated more quickly than previously planned by the traffic light coalition. The goal is shared across parties, said Finance Minister Lindner. He promises billions in relief.
In view of the high energy prices, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner considers it conceivable that the EEG surcharge on the electricity price will be abolished this summer. “If the coalition agrees on this, then I would make it financially possible for the EEG surcharge to be dropped in the middle of the year,” Lindner told the “Spiegel”. “That would be billions in relief for families, pensioners, recipients of student loans or basic security and medium-sized businesses and crafts.”
According to the coalition agreement of the traffic light parties SPD, FDP and Greens, the end of the EEG surcharge is actually not planned until 2023. “In view of the increased prices, I think an earlier abolition is necessary,” emphasized Lindner.
From the parliamentary space there is support from the parliamentary group leaders of the FDP and SPD. “I also see that as a work order,” said the finance minister. When asked whether the Greens still had to be convinced, he said: “No, the goal is shared across parties. There are also voices from the Union. So we should do it.”
At the beginning of the year, the EEG surcharge was reduced from 6.5 to 3.72 cents per kilowatt hour. With an annual consumption of 2500 kilowatt hours, the savings would add up to more than 90 euros. The current plans of the traffic light coalition envisage that the levy on the electricity price will then be completely eliminated from 2023 and that the expansion of green electricity will be financed from budget funds. However, due to the currently high energy prices, there have recently been increased calls for this step to be brought forward.