Associations and trade unions in energy-intensive industries and the DGB are calling for a quick decision on an effective bridging electricity price for Germany. The organizations have formed an alliance for the bridge electricity price. A total of more than 1.1 million employees in over eight thousand companies are represented by the members of the alliance. According to a recent study, a total of up to 2.4 million jobs and a good 240 billion euros in added value depend on companies in the energy-intensive sectors. They secure high income for the federal, state and local governments with annual tax payments and social security contributions of around 90 billion euros.
Necessity of the bridge electricity price
In the current debate about a bridge electricity price, the members of the alliance are in favor of a quick solution. The situation of the energy-intensive industries is seriously endangered. Relocations, site closures and the loss of jobs have been threatened for a long time.
Together they are committed to Germany as an industrial location and the transformation to climate-neutral production. Electricity is playing an increasingly important role. A competitive, temporary bridge electricity price is urgently needed until electricity is available in sufficient quantities from renewable energies. A decision must now be made for the future of industry in Germany and, above all, the Federal Chancellor must take a clear position.
“The federal government must now set the course so that Germany becomes a successful and climate-neutral industrial country. High-quality industrial jobs and strong industrial added value will also have to exist in the future. For this, the industry finally needs reliability and competitiveness in terms of electricity prices. However, not without committing to location and tariff loyalty. Despite all the efforts of the federal government, we must not stop halfway. The federal government must therefore follow up on its announcements with action and implement the bridge electricity price quickly. We simply cannot afford to wait,” says Yasmin Fahimi, Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation.
In a joint letter to political leaders in the federal and state governments, the alliance announced that it would hold talks with Prime Ministers, members of the cabinet and members of parliament in the federal and state governments in the coming days and weeks.
“The transformation to climate neutrality requires massive amounts of green electricity. And it has to be affordable. Our electricity costs are two to three times higher than those of our European and international competitors. This hits the companies in the steel industry hard, which are currently pushing ahead with decarbonization with giant strides. That's why we need a bridge electricity price - not permanently, but for the transition. Up to the point where renewable energies ensure competitive prices in an intelligent electricity market design,” says Kerstin Maria Rippel, General Manager of the Steel Association.
