According to SPD leader Saskia Esken, Germany will get through the winter well with the planned energy price brakes. Esken told the editorial network Germany that they are powerful means of reducing consumer prices to a reasonable level. “At the same time, they represent massive market interventions. Time is of the essence, but we must not risk quick fixes.”
The expert commission for the gas price brake also meets at the weekend. The federal government expects the proposal on Monday and has announced that it will act quickly. Esken said Germany is a strong country. “Through joint efforts we will get through the winter well. We will not leave anyone alone in this difficult situation.” This applies to consumers and social institutions such as companies of all sizes.
opinions
Industry President Siegfried Russwurm called on consumers to save energy despite the planned gas price brake. “There is no way around it,” he told the “Welt am Sonntag”. The fact that the stores are more than 90 percent full is better than expected, but not enough. “Further purchases from the remaining sources are essential. But also saving.” In addition, no price brake can undermine the world market. Gas prices would not drop to previous levels for the foreseeable future.
The head of the Verdi union, Frank Werneke, called for the gas price brake not to be set “unrealistically low”. Residents of old houses could not regularly save more than 20 percent of consumption this winter, Werneke told the “Rheinische Post”. “It is now important to ensure that the gas price brake – and by the way also the electricity price brake – does not become an air act.”
