Parmelin wants to house companies

High energy prices put a strain on businesses and households. In the basic supply, electricity prices rise by an average of 27 percent. However, companies that consume more than 100,000 kilowatt-hours per year and voluntarily enter the free market must expect a much higher electricity bill. Many of them had benefited from low prices in recent years.

For example, the trade association is now demanding that the federal government allow the battered companies to return to basic services to relieve them of energy costs and prevent a possible wave of layoffs and bankruptcies. Because many companies complain that the energy costs are hardly bearable.

Households pay extra

Economic Affairs Minister Guy Parmelin (62) probably wants to meet this requirement, the “Tagesanzeiger” reports. Companies should therefore be given the opportunity to return to the so-called basic services, as the newspaper writes, citing ‘well-informed sources’.

The SVP magistrate is therefore investigating the conditions under which the affected companies can return to basic facilities. The deal should be on the agenda at one of the upcoming Federal Council meetings.

Businesses would then again be put on an equal footing with private households. Only: The reception measure can have unpleasant consequences for households. Since local electricity suppliers would have to purchase additional energy from the market, prices would rise. And that would have to be paid for by customers who stayed or had to stay with the basic services. Households for example.

Relief plan controversial

The emergency plan is therefore controversial. The Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) in the SP Department Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62) is skeptical. There are also critical voices in the economy: “Households and small companies should contribute to the high electricity bills of large consumers who are stupidly in their network”, quotes the “Tagesanzeiger” Alexander Keberle of the umbrella organization Economiesuisse. “I don’t know how to explain that to them.”

And even if Parmelin pursues the idea, it’s unlikely to be executed unconditionally. A change in the law would be needed – and Parliament would have something to say about that.

SP co-chairman Cédric Wermuth (36) was previously open to the suggestion that SMEs should be allowed to switch to basic services again. With a big but. “This should be subject to conditions, such as energy efficiency measures in place,” said the Aargau National Council. “And they should commit to basic services for a few years.” (Russian)