Pay later – criteria for the German gas tax are still changing

A spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry in Berlin said the German government approved the later advances Friday in a written circulation procedure. In addition, the scope of the gas surcharge will be retroactively adjusted, so that no companies benefit that actually do not need any help at all. “The work is in progress. Everything else is not up for discussion now,” said the spokeswoman.

Nationalization speculations
Recently, there has been speculation in Germany that the main gas importers could be nationalized. This could become relevant in the Uniper case. Discussions are going on here about a high state stake in the company. According to the ministry spokeswoman, the negotiations are concentrated because there is no “infinite time”. She does not want to answer whether companies that the state has taken over can still receive a gas surcharge.

Customers pay a fee
The gas surcharge applies from the beginning of October and is 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour. It should be paid by every customer, whether they are private households or industrial customers. As a result, the revenue should offset the huge additional costs incurred by importers such as Uniper as a result of halted deliveries from Russia. The first funds should reach the companies in November.

Critics accuse the German Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens) of not having worked well in the field of craftsmanship. Certain companies should have been excluded from the gas tax in advance.