Salzburg AG remains on course
The sales of Salzburg AG have climbed from €1.45 billion in 2020 to €1.72 billion last year. Earnings before taxes rose to more than €60 million. Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Governor Wilfried Haslauer spoke of a stable and good influence in a very challenging situation: “The company has managed to achieve positive results in all business areas.”
The growth in sales of gas (from €304 to 478 million) and electricity (from €782 to 863.6 million) was particularly large. Due to the good result, Salzburg AG will distribute a dividend of €30 million to the owners of the state and city of Salzburg and Energie AG Oberösterreich. The state accounts for around €12 million. “This money is used exclusively to relieve the burden on the population and to cushion the consequences of the current price increases,” stressed Haslauer.
Independence and climate neutrality
Director General Leonhard Schitter pushed for a rapid conversion of the energy system: “The terrible war in Ukraine shows how important independent energy and heat generation is.” Salzburg AG is building a biomass cogeneration plant (Siezenheim II) and pushing the expansion of district heating in the city Salzburg and is investing more than €120 million in stable networks this year. In addition, efforts are being made to make customers an active part of the energy transition. “One way of doing this is with energy communities. A first pilot project is currently being implemented in Hallwang.”
Schitter still sees enormous potential for generating energy from renewable sources in Salzburg. As examples, he named the planned Salzach power plant in Stegenwald in Werfen and photovoltaic systems on private homes and company buildings. However, the approval process needs to be accelerated, stressed Schitter.