The federal government has made its decision.
For a limited period - as long as the gas levy applies - the reduced VAT rate of 7 percent will apply to gas.
That would be the case by 2024.
The amount of the gas surcharge of 2.419 cents per kilowatt hour was only announced on Monday.
The federal government originally advocated that no VAT be due on this levy.
However, she failed with the EU Commission, which referred to the legal situation.
The gas surcharge will apply from October, but it will not appear immediately on the bills, but with a little delay, according to the ministry.
For reasons of consumer protection, there are notice periods in the Energy Industry Act of four to six weeks that must be observed.
Therefore, the surcharge will probably appear on the bills for the first time in November/December.
The surcharge is intended to help importers who are suffering from the reduction in gas supply volumes from Russia.
Gas importers have delivery obligations to their customers, especially to municipal utilities.
The importers can only meet these delivery obligations by replacing the lost quantities from Russia by purchasing significantly more expensive quantities on the short-term market.
So far, these additional costs cannot be passed on.
The result: significant losses have been incurred by importers.
That is why the federal government has agreed on a rescue package worth billions with the utility Uniper – and in the course of this also the gas surcharge.
This comes in addition to market-related price increases, which gradually reach customers.
More information coming soon on FAZ.NET