“Against the people” – Viennese opposition rages over energy price hikes

Date:

Energieallianz Austria is raising prices and Wien Energie is following too – meaning much higher costs for private customers. The opposition is furious, the SPÖ tries to explain. Because that does not fit in the price ceiling demanded by boss Pamela Rendi-Wagner. We asked her what she thinks of the price increases in Vienna, which was ruled by the Reds.

Energy prices are rising in Vienna – and not too little. The SPÖ leader is constantly calling for an “immediate price cap for energy”. And what’s next? At “Krone” request, one is buttoned up in the office of the federal party presidents. Pamela Rendi-Wagner is currently on an Austrian tour in Tyrol, according to her office. A federal state that is, of course, completely cut off from any communication when it comes to sensitive topics.

For the time being, there is only one reaction from the federal party: “Energy prices are rising everywhere in Austria, which is why a price ceiling is needed everywhere in Austria. This applies to state suppliers, partly state-owned companies and private energy suppliers. The price cap is required for all suppliers throughout Austria. It is a matter of fairness that there is a price ceiling everywhere and therefore for every Austrian. There are also several energy suppliers in Vienna. That is why the government should get to work and finally introduce the electricity price ceiling instead of checking for months.”

Stadtwerke city councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) also continues to push for a nationwide solution: “With war-induced energy prices, we are just passengers, so a quick nationwide solution to relieve the population is all the more urgent.”

The opposition is united in criticizing the city of Vienna
The Viennese opposition is less restrained. The Greens say: “After the exorbitant price increase of district heating, the Viennese now face the next burden: Now electricity and gas are also becoming more expensive in Vienna,” said Peter Kraus, party leader of the Viennese Greens.

The ÖVP Vienna is also upset. “The price increase for electricity and gas by Wien Energie on September 1 is a fatal step, especially at this time and is once again at the expense of citizens,” said state party chairman Karl Mahrer in a first reaction. After the planned increase in district heating prices, the current price increase is another maneuver aimed directly at the inhabitants of our city. “Instead of easing the burden of the people in the crisis, such actions will aggravate it further,” Landtag president Manfred Juraczka continued. Mayor Michael Ludwig claimed in 2020 that the companies of the city of Vienna do not strive for profit maximization like others, but act solely in the interest of the population.

Vienna’s FPÖ boss, city councilor Dominik Nepp, is extremely upset: “While councilor Hanke promises that Vienna’s tariffs will not be increased after all, the next hammer comes: the rise in gas and electricity prices: I demand the return of the Profit Wien Energie and Wiener Stadtwerke to the residents of Vienna.”

Nepp continues: “Apparently in Vienna, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. On the one hand, citizens are appeased with promises that are probably false, on the other hand, the dismissal continues happily. That is unfair and an indictment of the city authorities !” Nepp demands that the profits of the companies in Red Vienna be returned to the residents of Vienna. “In 2021 Wien Energie and Stadtwerke made an incredible profit of 1.2 billion euros. That yields 600 euros per Viennese, which must be paid out quickly and unbureaucratically. Given these numbers, an increase is unacceptable!”

Source: Krone

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related