SPÖ calls for measures against high energy prices in Lower Austria!

SPÖ calls for measures against high energy prices in Lower Austria!

High energy prices represent a major burden for families, businesses and the business location of Lower Austria. This was made clear today, April 23, 2025, at a press conference by the SPÖ Lower Austria in St. Pölten by Sven Hergovich, the regional party leader of the SPÖ, and Alois Schroll, the energy spokesman. The two speakers presented a five-point plan with concrete measures to reduce energy prices in the region.

The ten percent decline in industrial production in Lower Austria since 2023 underlines the urgency of this situation. Hergovich emphasized that families and businesses in particular are suffering from rising prices and called for a social energy policy to relieve the burden on citizens.

Five concrete measures to relieve the burden

The SPÖ's five-point plan includes the following measures:

• Die Leistbarkeit soll in die Unternehmensstatuten der EVN, dem regionalen Energieversorger, aufgenommen werden.
• Die Vorstandsgehälter der EVN sollen auf das Gehalt der Landeshauptfrau gedeckelt und an faire Preise gekoppelt werden.
• Ein verpflichtender Sozialtarif für Haushalte mit geringem Einkommen soll eingeführt werden, finanziert aus den Übergewinnen der EVN.
• Die Neugestaltung der Netztarife soll private Haushalte entlasten und höhere Kosten für Großverbraucher festlegen.
• Die Leistbarkeit soll im NÖ Elektrizitätsgesetz gesetzlich verankert werden.

Schroll referred to consumer dissatisfaction, which is reflected in 160,365 electricity and 66,797 gas provider changes in 2023 and 2024. These figures reflect the population's desire for improvements and cheaper prices.

EVN’s public responsibility

EVN is majority owned by the state, which entails a public responsibility. The SPÖ is therefore of the opinion that changes in energy pricing policy are urgently needed. Hergovich appealed to the black-blue state government to take action and stand up for citizens and companies.

The current challenges are underpinned by statistical reports on producer prices of commercial products published on March 31, 2025. They show how much energy prices vary and which types of energy are affected, including hard coal, natural gas and electricity. These monthly reports contain comprehensive data on energy price developments and are compiled from various sources such as Eurostat. Further results and data are available in the GENESIS-Online database, which offers a wide range of statistics that are important for analyzing energy price developments.

The SPÖ's current efforts are intended not only to reduce price pressure, but also to create a long-term solution for the performance and availability of energy in Lower Austria. The framework conditions for a fair energy policy are therefore clearly defined and the need for action is urgent. The coming weeks will show whether the state government will take the necessary steps to address the challenges.

For more information about the price trends of energy types, you can download the comprehensive report from destatis.de see.

You can find out more about the SPÖ's measures in the detailed press release from ots.at as well as in reporting oe24.at.