Germany scraps gas levy, alternative solution found

The German government has reached a comprehensive solution to the country’s gas and electricity price issues, agreeing to significant but responsible spending to tackle the question, a government source said on Thursday.

A previously planned gas levy on consumers is scrapped under the solution so as not to further fuel gas price increases, the source added.

The gas levy, which had been due to come into effect from Saturday and remain in place until April 2024, was conceived with a view to helping utilities cover the cost of replacing Russian supply.

However, the need for the levy came into question after the government’s decision to nationalise Uniper UN01.DE, Germany’s biggest Russian gas importer.

Berlin has suspended its limit on new debt of 0.35% of gross domestic product this year. Finance Minister Christian Lindner has said he wants to comply with the limit next year.