Rising prices for consumers, high burdens for the economy and local authorities: an energy summit will take place in Saxony-Anhalt in two weeks. What to expect
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) – Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) invites representatives from business, associations and municipalities to an energy summit. Possible solutions to the energy crisis should be discussed. The exchange will take place on August 16 in Magdeburg. “Citizens, municipalities and business are facing major challenges due to energy prices,” Haseloff told the German Press Agency on Tuesday. For example, the competitiveness of many companies is endangered due to the high prices. “The municipalities also have high additional costs, for the citizens the cost of living is rising sharply. It’s about getting a picture of the situation and discussing ways out.”
In addition to members of the state government, representatives of the central municipal associations, the Federal Network Agency, business associations and energy-intensive companies from Saxony-Anhalt should also take part. According to the State Chancellery, various options are currently being examined, for example a possible protective shield for the municipalities.
Saxony-Anhalt’s cities and municipalities had recently pushed for a protective shield to ensure municipal security of supply. According to a letter to Haseloff, this could include, for example, default guarantees and loan safeguards by the investment bank for municipal companies in the energy and housing industries. The municipalities fear that the energy and housing companies will find themselves in financial distress due to rent arrears or the failure to pay operating costs, which could result in liquidity problems.
At the energy summit, an interministerial working group set up by the state government is also to present initial results on possible measures to be taken in the energy crisis. Among other things, this involves potential savings in public buildings.
