The gas surcharge is intended to protect companies that have to make expensive purchases to compensate for Russian supplies from collapsing. But importers with high profits also make claims. That is why Minister Habeck is examining tougher conditions.
After the energy company RWE declared that it would not be reimbursed from the gas surcharge, Economics Minister Robert Habeck also advised other companies to do without. “It would also be reasonable if companies that make good profits do that,” said the Greens politician in Gelsenkirchen on the sidelines of a factory tour.
Because of legal equality, the law provides that all companies can assert their Russian gas claims. “But of course we also see how many free riders there are now. Of course it wasn’t meant to be that way.” The crowd is not particularly large. “But we’re checking again whether, apart from asking ‘Is that really necessary?’ not find another regulation that makes it more difficult for these companies.” Habeck did not name companies. When asked whether there were already indications from companies not to do so, Habeck said: “There are talks with some companies.”
The levy of 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour is to take effect from the beginning of October and will benefit importers who have to buy replacement gas from Russia at high prices. According to the Economics Ministry, without the levy there would have been a risk of the German energy market collapsing, with even higher gas prices.
About two-thirds of the surcharge will benefit the ailing energy company Uniper. Another 25 percent will go to the former Gazprom Germania and its subsidiaries. The remaining percent is divided between eight trading companies. It is criticized that there are also companies that have recently posted increases in profits.
