Next week, the federal government plans to propose the much-discussed electricity price brake, which is intended to cover high energy costs. The solution is “unbureaucratic, can be processed quickly and is noticeable to the economy as a whole”, according to the cabinet of Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens).
“The concept for the electricity price brake will be presented next week. At the same time, implementation is underway,” said a spokesperson for Gewessler. As soon as the model is available, a decision by the National Council must also be made, reports the “Kurier”.
Originally, the turquoise-green government wanted to present its measure at the end of August. “The model will be ready in August. It will be decided in September or October,” Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) said on August 23. It was then explained that Wien Energie’s cause had thwarted the plan.
Cover basic needs?
The cabinet has not yet announced what exactly the brake on the electricity price should look like. According to information from “Kurier”, the model could be based on a proposal from the Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB). Instead of the previous year’s consumption, all households should be capped for a general basic need. The ÖGB recommended an electricity price cap for 3000 kilowatt hours (KWh) base consumption. Anything beyond that must be paid at market prices.
Nehammer spoke in August of an “energy-saving incentive” that should go hand in hand with the brakes. According to a recent survey, the majority of Austrians support the state’s energy-saving requirements. However, this does not necessarily mean that you want to save energy yourself. Proposals include reduced public lighting and a speed limit for cars on state highways and highways. In contrast, 17 percent of 500 respondents believe that energy saving “should be left to everyone”.
Source: Krone
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