Electricity tax on the upswing: Finance Minister plans revolutionary levy!

Electricity tax on the upswing: Finance Minister plans revolutionary levy!

Austria faces a violent political issue: Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) has presented a draft law that provides for the introduction of a new special levy for power generation. This levy, called "Energy Industry Contribution", could significantly increase the financial burdens for energy companies. According to reports, the submission for each Megawatt hour generated could be three euros and four euros for electricity from gas power plants, which should bring in a total of up to 250 million euros annually. This would exceed the originally communicated 200 million euros for the extension of the energy crisis contribution, which triggered alarming reactions in the industry, in particular with regard to the financial burdens for the domestic e-economy, which already draws attention to more expensive electricity.

The reactions within the coalition are mixed. ÖVP and NEOS are skeptical about the proposal, which has not yet been discussed in a comprehensive manner. The Ministry of Finance underlined the urgency of the law: a quick agreement in the National Council is necessary. The committee is supposed to discuss the model in this budget cycle with a decision until Friday. Criticism also comes from the Vienna SPÖ, since Vienna Energie, the largest gas power plant operator in the country, sees its interests at risk, as the Kleine Zeitung reports.

plans encounter resistance

The discussion about the new levy is being carried out intensively, and the government team interactions are currently shaped by a feeling of pressure. Marterbauer and his team emphasize the need to renovate state finances and at the same time secure a contribution from the energy companies. It remains to be seen how the negotiations develop, since the coalition partners apparently still see the need for clarification, as the Austria . The starting point remains excited, and the time is for an agreement to clarify with regard to the energy management plans.