A commission of experts is to make eagerly awaited proposals for the design of the gas price brake today. The three chairmen and 21 members from associations, trade unions, science and the Bundestag also met at the weekend. A night session was expected. In the morning, the chair trio of BDI boss Siegfried Russwurm, the chair of the industrial union for mining, chemicals and energy (IG BCE), Michael Vassiliadis, and the “business wise man” Veronika Grimm want to present the proposals.
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert pointed out the complexity of the task on Sunday evening on ARD. “It has to be quick, but it also has to be legally secure. What comes out has to be right.” People have a right to the measures working over the next two winters and being legally secure. Once the commission has presented its results, “we can also start implementing them,” said Kühnert. “The shot will come next week and it will sit.” A government spokesman said on Friday that the federal government would deal with the proposals “immediately and intensively”.
200 billion euros against rising energy prices
The gas price brake is intended to be a central rescue tool for the federal government in the energy crisis. On the one hand, it is intended to make the high gas prices more bearable for citizens and companies, and on the other hand to provide incentives to save energy, which is still necessary. A gas price brake could cap the prices for at least part of consumption in such a way that private households and companies are not overwhelmed. Overall, the traffic light coalition wants to use up to 200 billion euros to support consumers and companies because of the rising energy prices.
An “interim report” was announced for Monday. The tasks of the commission with representatives from associations, trade unions, science and the Bundestag – whose official name is “Expert Commission for Gas and Heat” – go beyond the gas price brake. The members are also to assess the extent of price increases due to the loss of Russian natural gas supplies until spring 2024. In addition to national relief options, they should also examine “options for cushioning price developments at European level, taking into account price formation on world markets”. Further meetings were planned for October 17th and 24th, and the final results of the work should be available by the end of the month.
Several models possible
Various models are conceivable for the gas price brake, including a one-off payment. Commission chairwoman Grimm told the Funke media group that this would motivate people to save gas more than reducing the price of gas by a certain percentage. Such a discount would also be conceivable, although this should not fully compensate for the high price level. A basic consumption for which a state-subsidized upper price limit would apply was also discussed again and again. For the rest, the market price would apply.
It was considered possible that the Commission would present the first proposals this Monday and others would follow. “It is important for us that the proposals take effect quickly, because many citizens and companies are already under enormous pressure,” said Katja Mast, the first parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group. “In the best-case scenario, we should take into account the respective social situation of the consumers affected. If necessary, this can also be done in a second step with a differentiated model.”
Commissioner Karen Pittel, head of the Ifo Center for Energy, Climate and Resources, also considered a two-stage model to be likely. The Commission will first propose a “short-term solution” on Monday to quickly relieve citizens and companies, Pittel said before the weekend on ZDF. The committee then has until the end of the month to work out long-term implementation options. Pittel said she was in favor of subsidizing a “certain basic consumption”.
