Competition Authority and Climate Protectors Criticize E-Economy Law

The Competition Authority (BWB) sees "no improvement in consumer rights" in the planned price change law. On Wednesday, it also emphasized the lack of regulations for a possible renewed energy crisis. Representatives from Global 2000 and Fridays for Future criticize the law because it does not contain a clear goal for achieving climate neutrality by 2040. The Poverty Conference demands that the social tariff also be made accessible to the unemployed.

Hundreds of Comments on E-Economy Law

Economics Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (ÖVP) submitted the draft law for the Electricity Economy Act (ElWG) to the National Council at the beginning of July. The review period ends this Friday. So far, 335 comments have been submitted. Many private individuals have also participated, expressing their annoyance over the planned grid fees for solar power. "The introduction of additional grid fees for the feed-in from private PV systems punishes those who contribute to the energy transition," criticized a citizen from Vorarlberg.

E-Economy Law: ÖGB Demands Improvements

The Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) is also demanding improvements here. "Households that generate electricity for their own needs should not be additionally burdened," said Federal Managing Director Helene Schuberth. Commercial suppliers and traders, on the other hand, should be more involved in the grid costs. Greenpeace suggests that fossil electricity producers should take on a larger share of the grid fees. With the Electricity Economy Act (ElWG), the government wants to make electricity cheaper. Hattmannsdorfer literally advertised with a "guarantee to lower electricity prices." However, industry representatives say that electricity will become more expensive due to the law because producers will add the grid fees to the electricity price.

Criticism of E-Economy Law Also from Lower Austria's Governor Mikl-Leitner

Regarding the planned grid fees for fed-in electricity, a clear differentiation between households and commercial large-scale plants is needed, as stated in a release from the state of Lower Austria. "Punishing home builders for their investments in the energy transition is not acceptable," emphasized Mikl-Leitner. The state demands improvements and identifies a "need for correction" in the e-economy law. It was also demanded that the costs for grid expansion be distributed fairly nationwide. Upper Austria's Energy Councilor Markus Achleitner (ÖVP) has also spoken out against new fees for private suppliers. "Anyone who uses the power grid must also contribute to its costs, this applies to suppliers as well as consumers," says a release from the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV). "Exemptions from grid fees should only apply where storage actually relieves the grid."

Two-Thirds Majority Needed for E-Economy Law

A two-thirds majority in parliament is necessary for the decision, so the governing parties ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS also need the votes of the FPÖ or the Greens. The Greens have already announced that they want to "counter" the grid fees for PV electricity. The FPÖ stated that the goal of the law must be to reduce energy costs and pointed to the high taxes and levies on electricity. There is largely agreement that the new e-economy law is needed and should be passed as quickly as possible. With some improvements, the law could contribute to the success of the energy transition, according to the assessment of Global 2000.

(APA/Red)

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