For a long time, energy prices only went in one direction: up. However, district heating customers of Wien Energie can look forward to a price reduction soon. The municipality waives a dividend payment from the municipal utility company for 2022 and 2023. You should know that.
The subscribers were recently faced with a huge price increase – almost doubling. The amount of the estate is currently being worked out, as Finance Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) explained on Wednesday.
The increase in district heating prices last year came as a surprise to some. Probably not all customers knew that this is largely produced from gas. Due to the increase in energy prices, district heating also became more expensive. In Vienna, this was particularly high at 92 percent.
The exact amount will not be known until Easter
Now it has been decided in the town hall that the company will give its customers a discount. Its size should be announced after Easter, Hanke said. For the time being it is also unclear whether this is a discount in the annual accounts or whether the current regulations will be relaxed.
In any case, everyone should be able to enjoy the discount, the head of the department emphasized. A distribution according to income situation is not planned. From a competitive point of view, the intervention is feasible, as is also emphasized.
Business at Wien Energie was good
According to Hanke, the measure was made possible by the positive results of Wien Energie. While this experienced a dramatic liquidity bottleneck over the summer due to high bond deposits on the power exchange, business itself generally fared well. For example, the unrest on the energy markets caused the number of energy providers in the Vienna region to shrink from over 100 to a fraction. According to Wien Energie, this resulted in 80,000 new customers.
As explained by the city council, Wien Energie initially had to record significant losses in the end-customer business in the previous year, but the tide turned after stabilization in the fourth quarter. It was said that the situation was being used for successful trading in the electricity production of the power plants or for profitable storage transactions.
No dividend paid
According to Hanke, Vienna will not pay a dividend for the previous year and for this year. The proceeds must remain in the group. So, in total, a three-digit million amount can be used elsewhere, as emphasized.
The conversion of the energy system, ie investments in areas such as solar energy or geothermal heat, must also be financed with it. Concrete figures will only be available after Wien Energie’s annual report is available.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
