STRASBOURG (dpa-AFX) - In the debate over energy prices, the European Commission is proposing to member states that they reduce electricity taxes for households to the minimum level set by the EU. According to the Brussels authority, this could lower electricity bills for consumers by 14 percent, or an average of €200 per year.
The European minimum for private consumers is 0.1 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), and 0.05 cents per kWh for companies. In Germany, the electricity tax for private consumers is currently significantly higher, at 2.05 cents per kWh. For industry, the black-red federal government permanently reduced the electricity tax to the EU minimum in January. This had been announced in the coalition agreement for all companies as well as for consumers.
The Brussels authority is also proposing to the 27 EU states, among other things, to reduce grid fees for consumers to a minimum.
Focus on citizens
"We still have far too many citizens in Europe who are struggling to pay their energy bills," said the EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen. Currently, the crisis in the Middle East is causing additional uncertainty. "As long as Europe is dependent on imported fossil fuels, we remain exposed to global fluctuations." The current proposals are intended to have a long-term effect and are not a reaction to the Iran war.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide more than €75 billion over the next three years to support energy transition goals, the Commission announced. Private investments - for example by pension and sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies - in clean energy projects are intended to reduce the demand for fossil energy.
Switching providers faster
Consumers should also be able to switch their energy provider within 24 hours. The EU Commission is setting requirements so that this does not fail due to technical hurdles, and wants to improve transparency and comparability between offers. Another goal is for more households to produce energy themselves - for example with the help of solar systems on the roof.
In addition, the Commission wants to place a stronger emphasis on nuclear energy again. The EU wants to support research and investment in nuclear energy, President Ursula von der Leyen announced. Small modular reactors are expected to be ready for use by the early 2030s. Within the German government, the topic of nuclear power remains controversial./wea/DP/mis
