North Rhine-Westphalia: NRW city council calls for a rescue package for public utilities

Cologne (dpa / lnw) - In view of the energy crisis, the City Council of North Rhine-Westphalia has called for a rescue package for public utilities. "The municipal utilities are threatened with high payment defaults if end customers, craft businesses or companies can no longer afford electricity and gas," said Thomas Kufen, chairman of the city council, on Thursday, according to the announcement. "Affected municipal utilities need liquidity support." The federal and state governments have a duty here. The gas surcharge also needs to be improved. "It must also apply to fixed-price contracts and district heating," demanded the mayor of Essen.