Voices are becoming louder that the draft of the long-discussed electricity industry law should be presented next week. To what extent this draft ends better than the previous one remains to be seen.
AUSTRIA. It was presented, it was rejected, it was criticized, it was adapted. The draft for the new Electricity Industry Act – ElWG for short – has had a little odyssey. People have been waiting for a new concept for weeks, and until recently it was not clear when the now adapted legal proposal would be presented. My district analyzed the first draft in July, you can read more about it here.
These are the key points of the electricity market law
Several voices suggest that the wait will soon be over. It could happen as early as next week – the newly developed concept is to be presented to the parties in the parliamentary session.
“The moment of truth for the opposition”
The ElWG is intended to replace the previous bundle of electricity laws in Austria and thus reform the legal system in the country. A reform that the electricity market needs. A lot has changed in the country in recent years – from the resurgence of renewable energy to the unstable economic situation. All eyes are eagerly watching what is happening in the federal government and there are already statements from politicians before the official publication.
The problem for the governing parties: In order to raise the law to constitutional status, it requires the support of at least one of the opposition parties – Green or Blue. Nico Marchetti – Secretary General of the ÖVP – emphasized in a press release that an “effective tool in the fight against high prices on the energy market” had been created. The Secretary General appeals to the two factions: “Anyone who says no to the cheap electricity law is also saying no to cheaper energy prices, no to the urgently needed relief and no to economic growth.” The moment of truth has come for the FPÖ and the Greens – will they take responsibility or give priority to party tactics?
Essential or bureaucratic monster?
The Green Party federal spokeswoman Leonore Gewessler was asked about the ElWG during the ORF press hour on Sunday, November 16th. She emphasizes the party’s fundamentally positive attitude towards reform. The ElWG is essential on several lines. Firstly, to put pressure on the state’s energy producers: “The companies are making billions in profits, you have to make sure they lower prices.” Secondly, to renew power lines across the country and thus enable efficient electricity distribution “so that the electricity gets where it needs to go.” The party will be constructive if the new proposal allows it – they would not have received an invitation to participate in the design.
Meanwhile, energy spokesman and FPÖ MP Paul Hammerl described the new ElWG as a “bureaucratic monster”: Although it says that the law should generate 50 million euros to support households at risk of poverty, in the end not even half of that should be left over – the rest will be eaten by the administration. “Especially in the social sector, every euro must go where it is needed – to the people who can barely afford their electricity bills and not to the administration,” said the Blue.
To what extent those responsible have edited the first draft to make it more tolerable remains to be seen. What also remains to be seen is the opposition’s reaction to the new draft – should it come at all. One thing is certain: MyDistrict will keep you up to date.
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What should change in Austria’s power grid
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E-economy calls for improvements at EIWG
