Zoom Image

Economics Minister Habeck in the Bundestag: important relief for industry

Photo: IMAGO/Frederic Kern / IMAGO/Future Image

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) would welcome an extension of the peak compensation for electricity tax. A spokeswoman for Habeck called the subsidy an important instrument on Monday in Berlin, and accordingly the initiative of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner was welcomed. "To our great regret, the peak compensation was not included in the budget," a spokeswoman told SPIEGEL. "If the Federal Ministry of Finance now sees room for manoeuvre, we expressly welcome it, because the peak compensation contains an important relief for industry in difficult times."

Habeck had always regretted the planned discontinuation. According to information from SPIEGEL, he is said to have lobbied Lindner, but also the chancellor, for its preservation. However, the Ministry of Economics continues to insist on relieving the burden on particularly energy-intensive companies. To this end, the price of electricity for companies that compete internationally is to be reduced to six cents.

Enormous additional burden

On the other hand, the plan has many supporters in the business community. The SPD parliamentary group is also urging its chancellor to change his attitude. The debate could promote the discord in the coalition that had escalated with the Building Energy Act.

The so-called peak compensation, through which large consumers are reimbursed for the electricity tax, is to expire at the end of 2023 according to previous plans. Business associations sharply criticize this. For example, the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries had declared that a cancellation of the peak compensation would mean enormous additional financial burdens for almost 9000,2024 companies. From 1 onwards, they would have to pay additional electricity taxes totalling 5.<> billion euros every year.

Lindner had told the "Welt am Sonntag" that the Bundestag could advise extending the top compensation for another year – "if you find funds for counter-financing elsewhere".

For months, the coalition has been debating the burden on companies in view of the high electricity prices by international standards. Associations warn of an increasing migration of production abroad. Habeck, the Green parliamentary group and the SPD parliamentary group therefore want to subsidise the electricity price for industrial companies by the state for a transitional phase – the FDP is against it, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejects a "permanent subsidy of electricity prices with a watering can".

mik/dpa