Dresden (dpa/sn) - The call for relief for companies and consumers in view of rising energy prices is getting louder. The Saxon employer president Jörg Brückner and the housing industry in the Free State commented on Monday. "It is becoming increasingly clear that energy prices are becoming increasingly threatening for citizens and companies," explained Brückner. Now, with the gas surcharge, there is a state-imposed levy to save the energy suppliers. "In view of the massive upheavals in the course of the war and the sanctions that followed, it probably has to be like this, but I ask myself: who will save the small and medium-sized enterprises, who will secure the industrial added value in our country and the millions of jobs?"
The efforts of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner to make the levy tax-free are correct, "but only a drop on the red-hot stone," emphasized Brückner. A price control is also needed for the development of energy prices. "Why are electricity prices rising even faster than gas prices, even though we only use a small part of the gas to produce electricity? I don't want state prices, but I do want a permanent review of pricing. Obviously there is an urgent need for this."
The association of the housing and real estate industry spoke of a dramatic situation for landlords and tenant households. It comes to a head because of the gas allocation. "You can't burden citizens and housing companies with more," said association director Rainer Seifert. There is only one solution to prevent bankruptcies: the housing companies must be authorized to pass on the rising energy prices directly to the tenants. "Tenants who cannot bear the additional costs on their own must be entitled to a needs-based "heating allowance".
