Sunshine387
2022-12-06 12:06:08
- #1
There are probably no perfect decisions, yes. But what a "cap" can achieve can already be observed abroad and should actually still be well remembered by us – keyword fuel discount. Unfortunately, the learning effect is zero.
Who actually says that the price increases are arbitrary? We will have to wait and see to what extent the suppliers are able to justify the price increases.
The electricity price has recovered from its peaks on the exchange, yes, but it is still at a high level there. The price as of 01.01. is also the result of purchases made in the summer, so it has nothing to do with current exchange prices reported in the media. They always pick the price that fits the report (sometimes the futures contract, sometimes the spot price). Speaking of the spot price: just look at the current prices at Awattar, you are currently at >50 cents/kWh.
The relief only lasted briefly because unfortunately (and I mean this seriously) we currently have exactly the situation that opponents of renewables like to cite, the "dark doldrums." Our electricity mix currently consists of only 6% (5% wind, 1% photovoltaics) renewables, so prices are correspondingly high. The problem is unfortunately real; no matter how much you try to "cap" it (which is just a debt-financed payment and shifts acute problems into the future).
I also believe that various relief measures mostly miss those who are truly in need. It is a reality that prosperity will shrink this year. Many can shoulder this and should not be relieved. Relief should only be where it becomes existential. Forgoing a vacation in favor of the electricity bill is not existential. Unfortunately, we still only have "watering can" instruments at our disposal, and no one has the guts to tell people that we are not in "wishful thinking" but in "this is how it is." The state cannot go from crisis to crisis and throw billions everywhere to make everything feel like it was before.
However, I find it very positive that the current federal government recognizes these past failures and is actively working on them. For example, the new annual tax law has laid foundations to distribute support payments more targeted through the tax authorities to the population. Something ridiculously simple, but until now unfortunately nonexistent.
How exactly are suppliers supposed to know all income conditions and the wealth of those who buy gas/electricity from them? That is technically impossible, and implementing it would take years. Would the alternative in your view then be to do nothing and let the companies go bankrupt? And even if these highly personal data were passed on to the electricity/gas suppliers, you would probably be immediately there complaining about it. Because your income/wealth is none of your supplier’s business (probably rightly so)! And that would be a gross violation of data protection. How many would sue against that??? It simply can’t work the way some imagine! Because a quick, fair, and data-protection-compliant solution is not possible within a few months without breaking EU law.