Salzburg AG increases electricity and gas prices
ECONOMY
Although the energy supplier Salzburg AG was able to record sales of 1.7 billion euros last year – half of which was generated with electricity – the energy prices will be increased significantly from April 1st. Electricity will increase by an average of 13.50 euros per month and household, and gas by more than 25 euros.
For an average household with an annual consumption of 3,500 kWh, the total electricity costs from April 1, 2022 will be 826 euros including all taxes, duties and network costs as well as all free electricity days deducted, the energy supplier reports. The total gross costs for electricity thus increase by 13.51 euros per month. With gas, an average household with an annual consumption of 15,000 kWh incurs additional monthly costs of 25.65 euros including all taxes and duties.
Management justifies increase with Ukraine war
The CEO of Salzburg AG, Leonhard Schitter, justifies this extreme price with the current development on the global energy market, despite the increase in the record turnover achieved: “A year ago we bought a megawatt hour for 17 euros and at the beginning of the Ukraine war for 300 euros per megawatt hour. We also pass on the prices here. Therefore, the order of the day is to invest much more quickly in the energy transition, sustainable, independent, regional energy production, that takes money and that’s what the funds are used for,” says Schitter.
Salzburg AG promises high but stable prices until 2023
Schitter promises that electricity prices will remain the same – at a high level – until April 2023. Provincial governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) will die the twelve million euros in dividends that Salzburg AG brings to the state each year, now put into an anti-inflation package. The customers of Salzburg AG would have pre-financed this money themselves, argues Chamber of Labor President Peter Eder and is now demanding that the state make more money available to cushion the price increases. According to Salzburg AG, a good 250,000 households are affected by the increase in electricity prices.