Municipal utilities are demanding a reduction in electricity and gas prices

Berlin The energy industry is convinced that politicians must intervene immediately and boldly in order to lower the prices for electricity and gas. Without price-limiting measures, there is a risk of an “economic meltdown,” said Ingbert Liebing, general manager of the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU), the Handelsblatt.

Galloping consumer prices, faltering supply chains and a lack of energy supply contracts for industry and commerce have become the Achilles’ heel of our entire economy, said Liebing. What is now required are “large relief packages that can be implemented quickly and easily”.

The best way to achieve this is through tax and duty cuts and direct help for needy households. Liebing said: “However, we also see that the force of constantly rising gas and electricity prices makes additional price support necessary. The VKU is therefore calling for a temporary electricity and gas brake that relieves private households, trade and industry.” The VKU is the mouthpiece of the municipal utilities, which supply 62 percent of end customers in Germany with electricity. In the case of gas, the end customer share of the public utilities is 67 percent.