The new gas surcharge affects companies and private households. Now you can at least roughly estimate how much it will cost.

Munich – A gas surcharge is coming. And now? The first calculations show that private households have to calculate 20 or 40 euros more per month if they heat, shower or cook with natural gas. The distribution is one A consequence of reduced gas flows from Russia. Here are the most important questions and answers.

Gas surcharge: What is the surcharge?

The charge is initially about 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour. Frugal households with an annual consumption of 10,000 kilowatt hours pay about 240 euros more, or 20 euros per month. Families needing 20,000 kilowatt-hours have to calculate about 480 euros per year, 40 euros per month. The fee is recalculated every three months and may increase or decrease. In addition, 19 percent VAT may apply, with The federal government negotiated an exemption with the EU Commissionso that you don’t have to grow them.

The premium is added to gas prices, which are already rising. This is a bigger problem. Even for thrifty private households, they can currently reach 150 euros per month. An increase to 300 per month is unlikely. Economy Minister Robert also faced this On Monday, Habek and the traffic lights drew ire and warnings from many parties.

When is the gas surcharge paid?

It will be applied from October next year. However, it may take some time for utilities to bill you. “The premium will probably be announced for the first time in November/December with a slight delay,” says the Ministry of Economy. Property owners feel it first. For many tenants, distribution as part of utilities could not be provided until next year. The rules are essentially valid until 2024. September.

Who has to pay the new gas surcharge?

All households and companies that use natural gas for heating, cooking, water heating or production of goods.

Why is there a gas surcharge?

In connection with the attack on Ukraine, Russia is supplying much less natural gas than agreed. As a result, domestic importers have to buy fuel from the global market at a much higher price, while gas suppliers sell fuel at previously set low prices. These scissors threaten the existence of some importers. “If the losses are too great, there is a risk that these companies will go bankrupt and with that the supply of gas to private and commercial consumers in general will fail,” says the Ministry of Economy. Therefore, the toll decided by the traffic light coalition covers the additional costs of importers and distributes them to buyers. In practice, it is organized by Trading Hub Europe (THE), a joint subsidiary of the gas importers. It is calculated by the Federal Network Agency under the Ministry of Economy.

Which companies are subject to additional gas tax?

“A total of twelve gas importers have reported their substitution purchase costs to TH,” explained the Ministry of Economy, “they claim costs of 34 billion euros.”

Gas tax: Do businesses make a profit despite the tax?

Most of the money is likely to go to Uniper, Germany’s biggest gas importer. He is currently suffering heavy losses due to Russia, which is why the federal government is backing him. However, in principle, it is possible to imagine that gas importers will be in the red with their activities in Russia, and will declare profits in other areas of business. This is the case with RWE (electricity) and Shell (petrol). These two voluntarily refused the contribution. Nothing is known about other, possibly similar examples.

Gas surcharge: How does the government want to help households?

Large-scale aid has already been decided. For example, in the near future all taxed employees will receive a 300-euro state energy price subsidy, which must nevertheless be taxed. The fee for green electricity has been abolished, the allowance for a child has been increased once by 100 euros. Depending on the individual constellation, the state benefit for one private household can reach 600, 700 or more euros. Even so, they will not cover all the additional energy and living costs. Citizens with low incomes are particularly hard hit.

Therefore, an additional aid package is under consideration – it is not clear if it will be adopted and how soon. Federal chancellor at the beginning of 2023 Olaf Scholz (SPD) is higher Housing benefit for low earners and a new benefit for citizens (formerly Hartz IV) were announced.. Leader of the FDP and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner…