The FDP calls on the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology to sharpen the plans for the gas levy quickly in order to prevent unwanted additional profits for individual energy companies.
“The gas surcharge is an instrument that is intended to stabilize companies that are in trouble. It should only be used to support companies that are in a market-threatening situation,” said Michael Kruse, spokesman for energy policy for the FDP parliamentary group, the “Rheinische Post”. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) would be well advised to adjust the basis for the levy.
With the levy, from October onwards, consumers should bear a large part of the extra costs that gas importers are currently incurring because Russian deliveries are missing and the companies have to procure gas elsewhere for significantly more money.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, an impending insolvency is not a prerequisite for receiving aid from the levy. This has led to some criticism because healthy companies then benefit at the expense of consumers. The Union wants to prevent the levy in the Bundestag.
