The National Council approved energy support for companies on Wednesday evening. Excluded are banks, state entities and energy producing and oil processing companies. Other companies must commit to energy conservation in order to receive the grant.
For example, heating systems outside companies, such as heating pads, must be switched off. The FPÖ took the opportunity to request separate smoking areas in bars, but to no avail.
Companies whose energy costs make up at least three percent of their turnover can apply for a subsidy, although this threshold does not apply to small companies with an annual turnover of less than 700,000 euros. At the base level, which most companies fall into, the price difference between last year and this year is subsidized by 30 percent.
Criticism of the opposition: too little and inaccurate
As with other resolutions on Wednesday, there was renewed criticism from the opposition. The SPÖ called the measure insufficient. Instead, it needs a gas price cap. While the NEOS are in favor of supporting energy-intensive businesses, they don’t want to “use the watering can.” On the other hand, Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Kocher (ÖVP) emphasized that especially small and medium-sized companies would benefit from the energy support.
Thursday will be decided on the brake on the electricity price. What matters is that customers only have to pay the pre-crisis price up to an average annual consumption.
Source: Krone
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