Gas levy, heating cost subsidy: Where you can save in October – and what else will change

2023-09-30T08:50:30.286Z

Highlights: Gas levy, heating cost subsidy: Where you can save in October – and what else will change. With the start of the heating season, gas prices could fall, as two gas levies will drop to zero. Anyone who heats with heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas, for example, should not miss the deadline for fuel assistance. Daylight saving time ends on the last Sunday in October in Germany and most European countries. Around 4.3 million eligible voters are called upon to cast their votes in the state elections in Hesse.

The coming month brings numerous innovations, from corona vaccines to new rules for smokers. If you want money from the state, you should not miss an appointment.

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With the start of the heating season, gas prices could fall, as two gas levies will drop to zero. Anyone who heats with heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas, for example, should not miss the deadline for fuel assistance. October brings many changes in Germany – an overview.

Two gas levies drop to zero

As of 1 October, two levies that make up part of the gas price will be abolished for the time being. Specifically, the balancing energy levy will fall from 0.57 cents per kilowatt hour and the conversion levy from 0.038 cents to zero cents each. However, it is still unclear how the utilities will pass this on.

Read more about the development of energy prices this winter here.

Application deadline for fuel assistance

Anyone who heats with fuels such as heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas and was particularly affected by price increases last year can apply to the authorities for fuel assistance until 20 October. The heating cost subsidy of a maximum of 2000 euros is subject to conditions.

State elections in Bavaria and Hesse

On 8 October, the people of Hesse and Bavaria will decide on the composition of the new state parliaments. Around 4.3 million eligible voters are called upon to cast their votes in the state elections in Hesse. In Bavaria, 9.4 million people are entitled to vote.

Daylight saving time ends

Sleep one hour longer: Daylight saving time ends on the last Sunday in October in Germany and most European countries. On the night of Sunday, October 29, the clocks will be set back from 3:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Microsoft subscriptions for less money

The software company will offer its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 program packages without the Teams communication service from October and will reduce the monthly subscription price by two euros. The reason for this is not so much goodwill on the part of Microsoft, but a procedure by the EU Commission. (Read more about this here.)

Autumn holidays in several federal states

The last schoolchildren in southern Germany have only just returned to their classes, and the first federal states are already starting their autumn holidays: In North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Thuringia, the time has come from 2 October (with school closing on 29 September).

Ban on flavouring tobacco for heated tobacco

Chocolate, vanilla, cherry or other flavors will no longer be allowed in tobacco for tobacco heaters from October 23. Previously, the ban on aroma tobacco only applied to cigarettes and rolling tobacco. In addition, the packaging of the heaters must then also contain warnings with text and images.

Cigarette shock images in the checkout area

The Federal Court of Justice will announce a ruling on this question on 26 October. The non-smoking initiative Pro Rauchfrei had filed a lawsuit because cigarettes were offered via vending machines at the checkouts of two Munich supermarkets without warnings being visible to customers from the outside.

Meeting of the book market

Orientation for reading fans will be available at the Frankfurt Book Fair, this year for the 75th time, starting on 18 October, initially for the trade public. Two days later, private visitors will also be able to attend the fair. This year's Guest of Honour is Slovenia.

Meeting of the gaming market

Essen's leading trade fair for board games »Spiel '23« promises answers from 5 October. More than 850 exhibitors from 55 nations will present new products for card, board and dice games. Last year, almost 150,000 visitors came.

Corona vaccine for children

From 2 October, the new adapted corona vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer is to be delivered for children between the ages of five and eleven. The preparation was adapted to the Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5.

You can read here what you should know about the start of the vaccination campaign this autumn.

Higher prices for DHL business customers

The parcel service will gradually increase its prices for business customers from 1 October, citing inflation and higher wages. Nothing will change for private customers.

mamk/dpa