Is the federal government giving the energy supplier Wien Energie, which has fallen into financial turmoil, a planned credit line of 2 billion euros? A press conference will take place in the Federal Chancellery at 10.30am (see krone.at livestream above).
“Negotiations are still ongoing,” Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) said in “ZiB 2” on Tuesday evening. He hopes for a solution “in the next few hours”. Experts are currently clarifying the details.
Brunner demands insight into business operations
In order to better assess Wien Energie’s financial situation, the Minister of Finance requires insight into the energy supplier’s business operations. “The condition is, of course, that it is cleaned up. The right of access also plays a role.” Only then can one understand whether speculative losses have occurred or not, says Brunner.
Wien Energie rejects speculation allegations
Wien Energie dismissed accusations of speculation in a broadcast Tuesday. The mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) announced a special audit of the bodies of Wien Energie and Stadtwerke by the municipal audit office and external experts. “I want to show that there is nothing to hide,” says Ludwig.
Finance Alderman Peter Hanke (SPÖ) explained on Tuesday afternoon that the amount to be paid on Monday of more than 1.7 billion euros was a down payment “that is not lost, that is not an expense”. It has since become clear that 798 million euros of this has been credited again. Wien Energie did not need any additional guarantees on Tuesday.
Source: Krone
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