Germany needs a decision on an effective bridge electricity price quickly. This is what the associations and unions of the energy-intensive industries and the DGB are demanding. The organizations joined forces this week to form an alliance in favor of bridge electricity prices. The members of the alliance represent a total of more than 1.1 million employees in over eight thousand companies. According to a recent short study, 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.
Franziska Erdle, General Manager of the WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle e.V.: “Due to the high electricity prices, the non-ferrous metals industry is in an extremely difficult situation. Some companies have already had to cut back their production or stop it altogether. Politicians urgently need to move from discussion to action and introduce an industry or bridge electricity price. Otherwise, there is a risk of the irreversible loss of transformation-relevant industry in Germany and thus an increase in dependencies in the supply of basic materials, especially from China.”
The members of the alliance are in favor of a quick solution to the current debate about a bridge electricity price. It is “five to twelve” for the energy-intensive industries. Relocations, site closures and the loss of jobs have long been threatened.
Together they are committed to Germany as an industrial location and the transformation to climate-neutral production. Electricity is becoming increasingly important. Until this is available in sufficient quantities from renewable energies, a competitive, temporary bridge electricity price is urgently needed. After months of bickering, a decision must now be made for the future of industry in Germany. Above all, the Chancellor must take a clear position.
Yasmin Fahimi, Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation: “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.”
In joint letters 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.
Kerstin Maria Rippel, General Manager of the Steel Industry Association: “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. To the point where renewable energies provide competitive prices in a smart power market design.”