Expensive energy: AK demands action from politics
business
Debt advisers, consumer advocates and social groups in Salzburg are increasingly concerned about the sharp rise in the cost of fuel, electricity and gas. Politicians have to take countermeasures here, demands the Chamber of Labor (AK), for example.
Against the background of the loss of income of many households in the pandemic and given the already high cost of living in Salzburg, this is urgently needed, so the experts from the AK. The price increase for gasoline and diesel is up to 35 percent, 40 percent for heating oil compared to the previous year, almost 65 percent for electricity and even 122 percent for gas, listed by AK President Peter Eder.
“This picture is alarming. Agreements with all energy suppliers are required here that shutdowns during the cold seasons are avoided. A right to installment payments over 24 months would also be important. In addition, the state needs a noticeable increase in the heating cost subsidy. This has not been valued since 2008 – and we all know how much prices have risen since then. After all, we also need a temporary time limit and a reduction in sales tax on electricity and gas, ”says Eder.
“Rent arrears again significantly more common”
The Salzburg debt advisory service is also concerned about the increase in energy costs, says its managing director Peter Niederreiter. “This year we noticed that the topic of arrears rent has become more important again in debt advice than it was a few years ago. You have to know that with a current rent arrears, the possibility of personal bankruptcy is excluded, ”emphasizes Niederreiter.
“It would be important that the support that can be used to pay for the energy costs is expanded again. Also dying would have to be eliminated again by the new social assistance law. Only then do our clients really have the opportunity to properly pay their running costs, ”adds Niederreiter.
“State and federal government must act”
Especially in the pandemic, the state and the federal government should act now, consumer protectionists and debt advisors agree.