“Too expensive” – ​​Not everyone agreed with the electricity cost brake

Essentially, the brake allows electricity to be subsidized by the state up to 80 percent of average consumption. The limit is 2900 kilowatt hours per year. The corresponding subsidy for households comes when the lower value of ten cents per kilowatt hour is exceeded. Anything above that should be subsidized up to an upper limit of 40 cents per kilowatt hour.

More help for low incomes
According to Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Leonore Gewessler (Greens), households with more than three people will receive an extra quota in the future. In addition to the electricity cost subsidy, a 75 percent network cost subsidy is planned for low-income households. This may amount to a maximum of 200 euros per year. Those who are exempt from the GIS fee are considered low-income.

The decision to limit electricity costs was hardly controversial in the National Council. Green environmental spokesman Lukas Hammer justified the aid by saying that electricity prices had gone crazy. That is why the National Council had to act quickly and decisively. The SPÖ seized the debate as an opportunity to once again demand a gas price ceiling. The FPÖ would have liked further measures, for example for people with disabilities who depend on electricity-intensive assistance.

NEOS mandatarin Karin Doppelbauer had points of criticism. She would only have wanted a brake for low-income people. The current measure does not encourage saving, is expensive and completely inefficient. Even electricity in second homes is subsidized by the state.