Green Party Demands Implementation of Announced Energy Laws

The fact that the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS have not yet presented a draft for the Electricity Industry Act (ElWG) is seen by former Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, now the Green Party's energy spokesperson in the National Council, as a bad sign. She fears the law could be unambitious and hinder expansion. According to reports, the government is considering introducing feed-in tariffs.

Greens: Feed-in tariffs could lead to project cancellations

The signals she is receiving from the industry are very concerning, says Gewessler. Accordingly, there is a threat of leveling down. In addition to feed-in tariffs for electricity, peak capping, meaning that grid operators can regulate systems when there is too much electricity, could lead to project cancellations, especially in the capital-intensive wind power sector, because they are no longer profitable. In the case of photovoltaics, Gewessler considers peak capping sensible because it reduces the costs of grid expansion. To lower grid costs, the opposition politician suggests spreading investment costs over several decades and building more storage. The responsible Minister of Economic Affairs, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP), stated on Wednesday that he is confident the draft law can be reviewed as planned before the summer. SPÖ energy spokesperson Alois Schroll said he hopes for constructive cooperation from the opposition.

Government needs opposition votes

In Austria, a two-thirds majority in the National Council is required for energy laws. This means that ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS need the votes of FPÖ or the Greens. This applies not only to the ElWG but also to the Renewable Expansion Acceleration Act (EABG) and the Renewable Gas Act (EGG), whose "priority implementation by summer 2025" the three-party coalition announced in the government program. Responsible for this is Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP).

Greens for social tariff with electricity price of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour

For the new electricity law, there was already a draft from ÖVP and the Greens in 2024. It was intended, among other things, to ensure that electricity grid costs are distributed more fairly and that less electricity is lost because generation and consumption are not in sync. A social tariff was also planned. Gewessler envisions an electricity price of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the approximately 300,000 households exempt from the ORF household levy, as she said to journalists on Wednesday.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.