High gas prices will continue to weigh on many people for months to come. Economics Minister Habeck would like to relieve medium and low incomes in the coming year. In industry, he considers company holidays to be an opportunity to save more energy.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck believes that further relief for medium and low incomes is inevitable due to the enormous increase in gas prices. "Even high earners swallow when they suddenly have to pay 4,500 euros a year for heating instead of 1,500," he told the editorial network Germany (RND). For people with medium or low incomes, these sums are simply not representable. The federal government must organize relief here, also in 2023.
Habeck is responsible for Finance Minister Christian Lindner. "I am sure that the Ministry of Finance will make provision for this. We have a political task there," explained Habeck.
Habeck does not have any other support services similar to the tank discount in mind. "With the tank discount, we saw that, as far as we know, the tax reduction was not passed on in full. It seems to me that it is more targeted to support people directly," explained the minister with regard to the tank discount. "At least it didn't work the way it should."
Habeck also called on companies with office space to help save energy. "It would be fatal to heat offices until 11 p.m. and at the same time destroy entire branches of industry," he said. At the same time, he assured: "Of course, private households and critical infrastructure such as hospitals, old people's homes, care facilities are particularly protected."
Referring to ongoing efforts to save energy in municipalities, which are making adjustments to bathrooms and air conditioning, the minister went on to say: "We should also think about whether it doesn't make sense to spend Christmas or Easter where it works and where it doesn't production continues, to organize company holidays, to turn down the heating systems when most people are on vacation anyway." It will not be possible to heat entire office towers to over 20 degrees with only three people sitting inside.
Habeck also called for the current practice for heating public buildings to be changed. "In many public buildings, full room temperature is provided from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. A little less would also be tolerable in off-peak hours." His impression was that the seriousness of the situation had arrived, from the economy to cities, states and the federal government to consumers and everyone was feverishly considering how to save so that one could survive the winter to some extent.
