Record profit for Salzburg AG – salzburg.ORF.at
Salzburg AG is owned by the state and city of Salzburg and the Upper Austrian Energie AG. The company will pay out 30 million euros in dividends this year – the state’s share of around 13 million euros should flow “1:1” into measures to compensate for inflation, according to Governor and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) on Tuesday. He doesn’t think it makes sense that the company’s profits WILL be used for lower electricity or gas prices – especially since the country is paying significantly more for the increased costs.
High investments for more energy independence
In view of the war in Ukraine and the consequences for the energy supply, Salzburg AG CEO Leonhard Schitter announced on Tuesday high investments for more energy independence.
“We have to implement the restructuring of our current energy system more quickly,” he said at the balance sheet press conference. In order to accelerate the independent generation of energy and heat in Salzburg, Salzburg AG will invest 324 million euros this year alone – primarily in new systems and grids. The company is currently building the Siezenheim II biomass thermal power station, which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2023, and is pushing the expansion of district heating in the city of Salzburg.
Construction of the new Salzach run-of-river power plant in Stegenwald (Pongau) could also begin this year, provided the necessary permits have been obtained. Schitter identified potential for the next few years in photovoltaics and wind energy. In addition, they are currently in the process of designing another biomass power plant. “We still see opportunities in all areas that we want to exploit. But we would like the official procedure to be accelerated.”
half of the turnover with electricity
The energy sector remained by far the strongest business area of Salzburg AG in the previous year. Half of the turnover was generated with electricity, with revenues increasing from EUR 782.1 to 863.6 million. Sales of gas rose sharply from EUR 303.9 million to EUR 478.1 million – which, according to the company, is due to risk-minimizing transactions in gas trading. Revenues in the district heating sector (EUR 64.2 to 73.2 million) and in the telecommunications sector (EUR 56.5 to 60.4 million) also grew in 2021.
The tourism and transport sectors, on the other hand, continued to suffer from the Corona crisis. In the tourism sector (Festungsbahn, Mönchsberg-Aufzug, Wolfgangsee-Schifffahrt and Schafbergbahn) only a slight increase in turnover (8.5 to 9.3 million euros) was recorded after the massive slump in 2020. In traffic, revenue increased from EUR 57 to 58.8 million.
Broadband expansion should actually be
In 2022, the company will also focus on the new energy communities and offer technical solutions. The expansion of broadband Internet in the federal state, which began a few years ago, WILL be continued. In 2022, Salzburg AG will spend around 35 million euros on this.
On Tuesday, Schitter also welcomed the fact that the cost risk for a minimum storage quota for natural gas is now not being passed on to the state energy suppliers, but is being taken over by the Austrian Gas Grid Management (AGGM). Incidentally, as of the balance sheet date, Salzburg AG employed 2,457 people (this corresponds to 2,317 full-time employees), which is 123 more than in the previous year.