Düsseldorf/Cologne (dpa/lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Economics Minister Mona Neubaur (Greens) calls for a rescue package for the municipal utilities threatened by the energy crisis. "If municipal utilities were to become insolvent, basic services would fail," said the deputy prime minister of the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" (Monday edition). "The consequences would be catastrophic for all of us. That's why I'm in favor of the federal and state governments securing the existence of public utilities in the event of impending payment defaults through liquidity support."
Functioning municipal utilities are of central importance for the public services, emphasized the Green Party. After all, they not only took care of the energy and water supply, but also of local transport and waste disposal.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) also spoke out in favor of a rescue package for public utilities and social institutions at the weekend. On Wednesday, the prime ministers will discuss further relief with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) because of the high energy prices. Because of a corona infection, the chancellor is to be connected virtually.
