The Tyrolean state energy supplier Tiwag not only has to work for maximum profit, but also has a supply mandate for the population. Now, in addition to the Tyrolean Workers’ Chamber, governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) is also putting pressure to record this in the statutes. Actually, this should have happened in 2021 at the latest.
The Tyrolean Workers’ Chamber, “Krone” and customers all over the country had to exert the greatest pressure to get the state energy supplier or owner of the state of Tyrol to give in to the electricity price debate: price increase is now lower than planned. But that is not everything.
Status so far with gap
Because now it is a matter of codifying the public supply mandate of the state energy supplier in the statutes. “The current statutes do not contain any target provisions that define this important task in the interest of all Tyroleans. The aim of the company is to operate energy systems and to trade energy, but nothing is said about the energy supply of the Tyrolean population,” criticized AK chairman Erwin Zangerl.
In recent years, this has even led to thousands being completely excluded from the energy supply by Tiwag: “This affected everyone whose apartment is in the area of a municipal network or the Reutte power plant,” described the AK Tirol .
Recommendation of the Netherlands Court of Audit not implemented
It is curious or rather doubtful that this supply mandate is mentioned in three (!) legal cases and that the Court of Audit also explicitly pointed out in its report on Tiwag 2021 that Tiwag is late with this. However, nothing has happened since then, as a public company, we are committed to maximizing profits, Tiwag’s board of directors told AK president Zangerl in May this year.
Clean electricity from Tyrol for Tyrol
But now it could soon be over with the unlimited entrepreneurial freedom. For the state’s governor, Anton Mattle, has now jumped right in line with the AK: “It’s time we redefine the role of the state energy supplier. It’s clear to me that we have the clear supply mandate for clean, sustainably affordable electricity must be enshrined in the statutes,” explains Mattle to the “Krone”.
Mattle identifies tense situation
The Articles of Association are a contract of commitments and organization and regulate rights and obligations regarding the internal structure of a public limited company. “My concern is that Tiwag can operate successfully in the very complex energy market, which has been liberalized by the European Union but is still strictly regulated, and secure supplies for Tyrol.” There are many engaged employees at Tiwag at all levels, “who themselves are suffering from the tense situation. That is why we are using the crisis situation on the energy market to anchor Tiwag even more firmly in Tyrol,” says Mattle.
AK Tyrol: soon no more excuses
“Once the public interest and the security of supply of the Tyrolean population, independent of the network area, are enshrined as a goal in Tiwag’s statutes with cost-effective and affordable energy, neither the board of directors nor the supervisory board will be able to accept the fact no longer excuse that the state energy supplier as a joint-stock company is committed to maximizing profits and they can be accused of disloyalty at prices that are not competitive – but far from loss-making,” explained AK chairman Erwin Zangerl.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
