Unis: Energy costs in the millions – tirol.ORF.at
The universities and technical colleges negotiate their budgets with the federal government over several years. They are now demanding and hoping for additional money from the government, not only because of the high energy costs, but also because of the rise in staff salaries caused by inflation. The University of Innsbruck alone will need an additional 45 to 50 million euros over the next two years to maintain research and staff at the current level. Assuming the current energy price remains constant.
Seven or eight million euros more for electricity and gas
However, it is not just this year that electricity costs have skyrocketed. The University of Innsbruck had to pay around three million euros more for electricity last year, said Wolfgang Streicher, Vice Rector for Infrastructure. The largest educational and research institution in western Austria expects additional costs of around four million euros in the coming year: “Two years ago we paid 40 euros for a megawatt hour, now it’s already 400 euros.”
In total, the Innsbruck University expects additional energy costs of seven or eight million euros in the electricity sector. In addition to electricity, there is also gas. Although more precise figures would still be missing there, the university expects additional costs of two or three million euros. “In order to maintain operations at the current level, we would need 45 to 50 million euros from the federal government over the next two years,” said Streicher.
Medical universities also cost additional money from the federal government
The Medical University of Innsbruck also assumes that energy costs will quadruple by the end of the year. “A year ago we still paid 4.92 cents per kilowatt hour, now we pay over 13 cents. We will only have to spend over a million euros more on electricity,” said Vice Rector for Finance and IT, Manuela Groß. “We just hope that politicians WILL act,” she said. Measures such as reducing the opening hours for students and also for the laboratories and research would have to go ahead.
MCI calls for a 20 percent increase in subsidy rates
Not only universities, but also technical colleges such as the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) are suffering from the current price hike. The universities of applied sciences are generally funded by the federal government for each study place occupied. “Normally we have energy costs of around 250,000 euros in a standard year. These have increased by about half this year and will increase by about three times over the next few years,” explained Director Andreas Altmann.
At the moment not even the fixed study place financing is secured against inflation. “If this WILL NOT be increased, if energy costs rise and tuition fees are fixed, then ten, twelve, 15 positions will quickly be called into question,” says Altmann. Negotiations are currently being held with the federal government and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Specifically, the technical college conference called for an adjustment of the funding rates by around 20 percent. “Currently we get around 30 to 35 million euros per year, if we take the 20 percent, then we would be at around six to seven million euros, which we would need,” said the director.
Four-stage plan of the University of Innsbruck
The University of Innsbruck has drawn up its own four-stage plan for the coming autumn and winter, whereby the stages could come into force one after the other. That depends on the prices and also the subsidies.
Volunteerism would be the first to be built upon. “We try to heat less, not leave any windows open and consistently turn off the light when leaving a room,” says Streicher.
The second stage would be that all rooms would be heated to 19 degrees, but the workplace ordinance would first have to be changed by law. “At the same time, we would then have to implement accompanying measures to prevent people from putting electric ovens or heating pads in their offices,” says Streicher.
Further cuts would have to start closing buildings and sending students back to their home offices. At the same time, people on campus would have to be diverted to the energy-efficient buildings. “Should the fourth stage come about and the gas is turned off completely, then that’s it. But there’s no one saying we’ll get there,” says Streicher. However, uncertainty about the future remains.
Shortening of the opening times of the Meduni
The Medical University of Innsbruck has already taken measures to save energy. All the lighting except for one building was quickly switched to LEDs. Funds have also been raised for insulation and renovation. “We also want to install photovoltaic systems wherever possible. This is currently being examined,” says Groß.
Highest quality of research and teaching
However, if the prices remain consistently high and there is no financial compensation from the federal government, further measures such as reducing the opening hours for students and laboratories would have to be taken.
“Not only would the quality of teaching suffer as a result, but also the research, which in turn benefits our patients,” says Groß. Laboratories are very energy-intensive, and you have to think carefully about which machines are allowed to run when for which experiment. “This could also lead to waiting times for students because fewer machines would then be available for the groups.”
However, they do not yet have a concrete emergency plan because it is hoped and also assumed that the situation will calm down by the end of the year and that politicians will also act and take measures.
Reduction of opening hours for MCI last measure
For the MCI, as for the universities, the last measure is to reduce the opening hours for students and for laboratories. “We have a responsibility towards our students, and that means presence,” says Altmann. The MCI sees itself as an infrastructure company that invests in the future, without sacrificing quality.
“For example, we hardly have any cooling systems or air conditioning.” At the same time, they want to reduce the temperature to 19 to 20 degrees Celsius where possible. According to Altmann, areas of research and start-ups are also characterized by climate-friendly considerations.
Uni as a victim of price increases and inflation
In general, it is relatively difficult for a university to deal with the energy crisis, because there is no product that can simply be made more expensive. “In addition to energy, labor costs have also become more expensive due to inflation. We hope that, despite the budget negotiated a year and a half ago, we will be awarded a contract to cushion inflation. we have to cut back on staff,” said Streicher.