The number of oil heating systems in the province of Salzburg has halved in the last 15 years. Since 2020, oil heating systems have also no longer been allowed to be installed in new buildings. Nevertheless, they are still found in more than 42,000 Salzburg households. 21,000 heat with natural gas. Two thirds of the oil heating systems in the country are more than 20 years old and, according to the forthcoming Heat Act, will have to be replaced by other types of heating systems from 2025.

Indirect criticism of federal plans

Provincial Councilor Josef Schwaiger also supports this law in principle. Nevertheless, he criticizes: “The timing is rather unfavorable. Hardly any other heat sources are available. There are currently maximum prices in all areas. And triggering such a big leap right now would not be particularly good at the moment.”

Another additional task for municipalities?

The new law would then have to be fully monitored by the federal states and municipalities in the future. Their officials would then have to dictate that households replace the heating system, which in many cases is very expensive. There is further criticism at community level because a separate administrative apparatus would probably have to be set up, which is anything but cheap, as they say.

A two-thirds majority in the National Council will soon be passed for the law planned by the black-green federal government. Whether this will still come about this year, and whether the SPÖ, as a party for employee and consumer protection, will play along as a whole, is currently still unclear.