How the energy costs for the population and the economy can be reduced, ensured in the further course of today’s Economic Committee For intensive discussions between the political groups. The committee unanimously asked the Federal Government on the initiative of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS to launch measures to relieve companies and households in the event of energy costs. In addition, the MPs debated the report on the electricity costs compensation law 2022. According to this, energy-intensive companies received 185 million ꞓ as electricity costs in 2022.
With the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS, several initiatives of the freedom were postponed to reduce the energy costs for companies and households. These occur for the extension of energy price-absorbing measures and the electricity price costs compensation law as well as the abolition of the CO2 tax.
ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS require measures to relieve companies and households in the event of energy costs
Energy -intensive companies and SMEs would contribute significantly to added value and employment. Currently – as well as private households – they would be burdened by high energy costs, Tanja Graf (ÖVP), Alois Schroll (SPÖ) and Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) in a joint motion for resolution (application195/A (e)), who found the approval of all factions in the committee. A permanent reduction in energy costs is of central importance to promote economic stability and growth. This would also create fair competitive conditions for neighboring countries. The applicants: Inside, the fact that the upcoming energy policy reforms, in particular in the Electricity Economic Act (EIWG), in the Renewable Expansion Act (EABG) and in the Renewable Gas Act (EGG) are taken to relieve relief. These measures are essential in order to counteract the impending dein industrialization and to ensure the competitiveness of the Austria business location, but also to ensure the affordable energy supply of private households, is cited in the application.
The federal government has been working on making energy affordable since the first day, said Alois Schroll (SPÖ). For this purpose, measures for an affordable energy system and for quick procedures for energy transition projects would be taken. With this “economic tower motor”, households would be relieved and jobs created, Schroll was convinced.
The goal of affordable energy also emphasized Tanja Graf (ÖVP).
The Greens would share the goal of the affordable energy, said Leonore Gewessler (Greens) and was pleased that a social tariff could come. It was not sufficient to reduce the energy costs of companies alone, she emphasized.
The application is only a declaration of intent that nothing has been created and the work is not done, explained Arnold Schiefer (FPÖ). At the moment there are only headings, said Paul Hammerl (FPÖ) and warned to think about their consequences when developing the measures.
Report: 185 million ꞓ electricity costs in 2022 for energy-intensive companies
With the electricity price costs compensation law (SAG 2022), for energy-intensive companies in certain sectors, compensation for the high electricity price costs in the calendar year 2022 should be created. In relation to the EU emission certificate trade, the funding for companies should include up to 75 % of the indirect CO2 costs of 2022 actually incurred. The National Council has the report on the grants in accordance with this law (III-111 d.B.), which is already at the end of the last Legislative period was transmitted. According to the SAG 2022, 44 companies with 76 plants from 27 (partial) sectors were funded. Overall, the approved and paid aid amount was around 185 million ꞓ. According to the report, 37 companies were funded with 500,000 ꞓ or more. According to the report, CO2 auction proceeds in 2022 as the basis for measuring funding amounted to around 375 million ꞓ. Accordingly, the total funding amount of 185 million ꞓ 49.2 % of the auction proceeds corresponds. Since the period of this support was only restricted to 2022 and also at the same time the SAG 2022 Russia began to work on Ukraine at the same time, it was decided not only 25 % of the auction proceeds from the previous year, but also to provide 75 % of the auction benefits, the report is carried out in view of EU specifications. In addition, there was no further funding for the figurative costs for 2022 in Austria. As far as funding is concerned according to the corporate energy cost grant law (UEZG), the report states that it was guaranteed that the promotion of one and the same costs was excluded compared to the SAG.
At that time it was important to take measures to cushion the energy costs and thus support the economy in this difficult situation, explained Christoph Stark (ÖVP).
The State Secretary for Energy, Startups and Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner-Piewald assured Reinhold Binder (SPÖ) that double funding could be excluded through this funding.
The report was noted by all factions and is therefore an end.
FPÖ: Extension of the electricity price costs compensation law should support energy-intensive industry
In the interest of the industrial companies that still suffer from the high energy costs, to maintain jobs and to protect against emigration and outsourcing, “urgently” need financial compensation, FPÖ MP Axel Kassegger addresses in a resolution (application for a resolution (131/A (e)). He demands that the electricity price costs compensation law to be extended by 2030. This regulation set for the year 2022 had compensated for the indirect C02 costs of energy-intensive companies with grants. According to the FPÖ, the risk of a C02 shift and emigration of companies should be minimized to other cheaper world regions. Austria is one of the few European countries without corresponding electricity price compensation, which leads to massive competitive disadvantages, argues. Specific measures to support domestic industry and its competitiveness are important, Axel Kassegger (FPÖ) also said in the committee debate that the budgetary priorities are settled in this direction.
Christoph Stark (ÖVP) pointed out that the Federal Government currently has the priorities in accordance with the budgetary situation. The application was postponed with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos.
FPÖ for the abolition of CO2 tax to reduce energy costs
The national C02 tax is an additional financial burden on households and companies, criticizes Paul Hammerl (FPÖ) in a motion for a resolution (132/A (e)). For example, the annual burden on households that heat with natural gas is around 180 million ꞓ. In addition, 2025 did not replace the relief from the climate monus. This significantly increases the real burden on the population. From the point of view of the industry, the C02 tax is at risk of location because it increases the production costs massively and thus represents a significant additional burden on business and employment. On the “end of the day”, private households would also pay for these additional costs about the inflation of consumer goods, criticized Hammerl in the committee debate and spoke of an annual total burden of 820 million ꞓ. The CO tax is no longer “tolerable” and should therefore be abolished with immediate effect, Hammerl demanded. In addition, the federal government should work against ETS trading at European level. His group colleague Axel Kassegger spoke of “planned economy excesses and madness”.
Affordable energy prices are the common goal, explained Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS). She spoke out against the required abolition of the CO2 prize. This is a central steering instrument and its abolition also makes no sense because of the planned transfer to the EU ETS 2 system.
Leonore Gewessler (Greens) joined Doppelbauer on these points. The application was postponed with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos.
FPÖ calls for quick measures to reduce energy costs
At the beginning of 2025, a number of energy price -damping measures have expired, criticizing the Freedom Members Axel Kassegger and Paul Hammerl in a resolution (133/A (e)). The “enormous additional burdens” at that time were deliberately accepted by the black and green federal government at the time. An average budget now pays around a third more for electricity than in January 2024. For this purpose, the FPÖ should be extended after the reduced electricity tax, the reduced natural gas tax, the network cost allowance for low-income households and the non-collection of the Renewable flat rate as well as the renewable subsidy contribution. In the committee, Kassegger called for a “decent” energy and economic policy, the measures of which have a cost-reducing effect on households. One should stop to get the citizen: “to pull the money out of your pockets with” big hand “, Paul Hammerl (FPÖ) concluded the demand.
There is agreement to have low energy costs, explained Andreas Otenschläger (ÖVP). This is also anchored in the government program and there are already measures in the “pipeline”.
Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) criticized the reduction in energy costs, but the proposals would be carefully estimated 1.3 billion ꞓ. Implementation is therefore difficult in view of the budgetary situation. The application was postponed with the votes of ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos. (Continued Economic Committee) Sox/PST