Ein Gaszähler in einem Keller zeigt den Gasverbrauch für die Heizung und Warmwasser im Haushalt an. Deutschland gehört weltweit zu den Ländern, die am meisten Gas zum Heizen nutzen. Themenbild, Symbolbild 04.02.2022 Foto:xC.xHardtx/xFuturexImage

In order to absorb price increases for electricity and gas and to avoid existential difficulties, the Berlin CDU parliamentary group is demanding a one-time payment of 300 euros for everyone in Berlin – in addition to the energy flat-rate from the federal government, also in the amount of 300 euros.

It is about averting social and economic difficulties, said parliamentary group leader Kai Wegner on Thursday and called on the Senate to act “as quickly as possible” and to pay out the money unbureaucratically.

Coal phase-out, climate change, sector coupling: The briefing for the energy and climate sector. For decision makers

“People don’t have time to wait,” said Wegner, calling for “clarity and speed.” It cannot be that the Senate is waiting for federal measures. “I think that’s fatal in this serious crisis,” said Wegner.

The one-time payment known as the “Berlin energy money”, from which pensioners and students should also benefit, in contrast to the federal energy price lump sum, is to be financed via the surplus of the state budget in the first half of the year presented on Tuesday.

According to calculations by the tax authorities, this amounts to around 2.3 billion euros and is fed by additional tax revenue and reduced expenditure. Money that must be returned in full to the residents of the city, explained Wegner. According to his calculations, the payment of the energy money would burden the state budget with 1.4 billion euros.

[If you want to have all the latest news live on your mobile phone, we recommend our app, which you can download here for Apple and Android devices.]

The difference to the surplus of 900 million euros should be made available to the state-owned companies and the state itself to compensate for additional burdens due to rising energy prices, he explained and called for a supplementary budget to be passed.

In addition, the parliamentary group calls for an energy summit and a monthly energy council, which should include energy suppliers, network distribution companies, business associations and consumer representatives. Consumer centers and debt advice should be strengthened, approval procedures for the expansion of renewable energies should be accelerated.

In addition, the Senate should take energy-saving measures not only in state-owned buildings, but also in the vehicle fleet. Every trip must be checked for its necessity, said Wegner. He sees savings potential, among other things, in the green space offices of the districts.