High energy prices are a burden on citizens and companies.
(Photo: IMAGO/aal.photo)
Berlin In many sectors, it is no longer five to twelve, but rather 12:30 p.m.: production facilities are at a standstill, some companies have already gone bankrupt, entire sectors are being brought to their knees by high energy prices.
To the extent that the high prices for electricity and gas have already reached private households in the form of bills and drastically increased payments on account, they cause sheer horror, especially in the lower and middle income brackets.
Now the federal government is countering the rising energy costs with the “defense shield against the energy war”. Up to 200 billion euros are to be used in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to alleviate the worst consequences of the extreme increase in energy prices.
The rescue operation does not come a second too soon. It is about protecting consumers from financial ruin. And it’s about stopping the implosion of Germany’s industrial core.
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The aid measures previously devised to protect the economy alone, in particular the energy cost containment program, could never have achieved this. That had already become apparent weeks ago.
However, the new rescue parachute will only be able to fulfill its purpose if it is deployed immediately. All eyes are on the commission set up by the federal government to develop a model that will lower gas prices for businesses and private consumers.
“Energy suppliers can only look up to the meter of their customers”
Various models are under discussion. It is to be hoped that the simplest and most quickly implementable solutions will win the race.
Unfortunately, energy suppliers can only look up to the meters of their customers. This applies to both electricity and gas. They don’t know what’s behind it.
It should therefore be difficult if not impossible to differentiate between the reliefs according to income situation or the number of people living in the household. At best, it still seems manageable to offer a certain basic contingent of consumption at government-subsidized prices. Any additional consumption must be billed at actual cost so that there is an incentive to save.
In the end, there has to be a rather simple knitted solution. This also applies to companies that urgently need relief quickly.