Negotiations are at a standstill – the transition to heating in Austria is “still far away”

On Monday, ÖVP energy spokeswoman Tanja Graf made people sit up and take notice when she announced that the law was “wrongly structured” and needed to be carefully re-examined. The club bosses of the ÖVP, August Wöginger, and the Greens, Sigrid Maurer, immediately announced that negotiations were “continuing quickly”. However, no substantive progress was heard from them; Wöginger even wrote that further negotiation dates had “already” been agreed. The law should have come into effect in January. The legislative period lasts a maximum of twelve months.

In terms of content, the law is intended to record the phasing out of oil and gas for space heating. Existing systems must also be decommissioned. However, because it also affects the powers of the states, a resolution would require a two-thirds majority in parliament.

“Increasing dependence on oil and gas”
SPÖ energy spokesperson Alois Schroll assured in a broadcast on Tuesday that the SPÖ’s hand had been “extended for negotiations”. At the same time, he criticized, “the federal government’s endless arguments and delays are increasing our dependence on oil and gas. The road to climate neutrality in 2040, as promised by the ÖVP and the Greens, still seems far away.” SPÖ environmental spokeswoman Julia Herr also accused the governing coalition of “blocking” the important law for months.

“Stormstorms and fires are getting significantly worse”
NEOS energy spokeswoman Karin Doppelbauer warned Tuesday that without the Renewable Heat Act (EWG), “storms, fires and floods like this summer would not only become a sad habit, but also significantly worse.”