Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) confirmed after consultations with the federal states that there must be an energy price cap quickly.
There was agreement that a price cap for electricity, gas and heat was needed, Weil said in a statement distributed on Wednesday evening.
“The energy price cap must come quickly, bring noticeable relief, and be easy and unbureaucratic to implement,” emphasized Weil.
Where this price cap is not sufficient, there must be targeted aid programs.
"At the same time, we must not let up in working consistently for a secure energy supply based on renewable energies."
According to Weil, the prime ministers had agreed on a joint decision, which was a good sign.
“Citizens are looking at the ever-increasing energy prices with great concern.
They expect signals from us of national unity and unity and constructive cooperation between the federal and state governments in overcoming the crisis.” Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) welcomed the joint demand by the Prime Ministers for an energy price cap.
"We have made a joint decision of all 16 states and now we have a really good basis for the consultations with the federal government on October 4th," said the CDU politician on Wednesday evening in Berlin after talks with the heads of state.
Now quick decisions are important.
Negotiations between the federal and state governments on the third relief package, which the traffic light coalition presented at the beginning of September as compensation for rapidly rising prices, are planned for Tuesday next week.
Due to a corona infection from Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the meeting originally planned for this week was postponed to next week.