FPÖ wants an expert group on the Electricity Market Act

To achieve this, the Freedom Party wants to assemble a group of energy experts to develop a catalog of measures with adjustments for the law. A reduction in sales tax is also to be discussed.

The FPÖ is "of course ready" to enter negotiations on the ElWG, said Hafenecker, and they want to be "open, constructive, and solution-oriented." However: "We will certainly not be part of a PR event," said the Secretary General, who also criticized the titles "Cheaper Electricity Law" or "Cheap Electricity Law" recently used by the government from ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS. He saw this as a "misleading label" that creates "false expectations among citizens." The FPÖ will only agree to the law if there is a "measurable cost impact for consumers and businesses."

Freedom Party Sees Excessive Climate Protection

FPÖ energy spokesperson Axel Kassegger once again criticized Austria and the EU for their "excessive climate goals." The EU is on a "wrong path" with the Green Deal, with "planned economy" traits, and Austria is engaging in "gold plating" with the goal of climate neutrality by 2040. With regard to energy prices, he called for a stop to CO2 pricing and CO2 certificate trading. He also sees the "demonization of oil and gas" as problematic. Instead, energy production in Austria should be expanded, said the energy spokesperson, referring to geothermal energy, hydropower, and "new technologies." He also advocated for CO2 storage, which is currently banned in Austria.

Relief in network fees should be achieved from the FPÖ's perspective by scaling back the expansion targets for renewable energies. Kassegger criticized a "massive over-subsidization" of photovoltaic and wind power plants. In the area of taxes and levies, the energy spokesperson considers a reduction of the renewable energy flat rate, the renewable energy contribution, as well as electricity and natural gas levies necessary. The Freedom Party also wants to discuss a reduction of the sales tax on energy from 20 to ten percent during the ElWG negotiations.

Experts to Develop Measures for Cheaper Electricity

"We see no possibility that this law will make electricity cheap," said the deputy FPÖ energy spokesperson, Paul Hammerl. The proposal to the federal government is therefore to assemble a group of energy experts to develop a catalog of measures to reduce electricity prices. The Freedom Party experts are already set, "we invite the federal government to also gather their economic experts," said Hammerl.

The law is planned to be passed by the government in December, but a two-thirds majority in parliament is necessary. Therefore, the votes of the Greens or the FPÖ are needed. The Greens also criticized the renaming of the law as a "PR stunt" in a statement on Wednesday and also want to ensure cheaper electricity prices for households and businesses with the law. However, they disagree with the FPÖ on the approach to achieve this.

(APA/Red)

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