Federal government reduces energy costs
This morning the federal government presented their new energy agreement. The measures taken will reduce the average energy bill of a family by 300 euros on an annual basis.
Earlier had already been decided on a heating bonus of 100 euros for each family and a reduction of VAT on electricity from 21 percent to 6 percent from March on. Now, the government has decided to also reduce VAT on natural gas to 6 percent, starting from April. Both until the end of september. "In case of technical problems with the quick implementation of this measure, it will happen retroactively," Minister of Energy Tine Van der Straeten assured. There also will be a reduction in excise duties on diesel and gasoline.
The social rate is extended once more until the end of September. Families who qualify for the social rate will thus have saved 2,230 euros in one year.
According to the federal opposition parties, the measures come too late and are insufficient.
"Once again we read a series of measures that not only have a minimal impact on the energy bill, but also come richly too late," respond N-VA MPs Bert Wollants and Joy Donné. They complain that "due to the procrastination and bickering of the De Croo government, the VAT reduction of 6% is coming just when winter is nearing its end and the biggest costs have already been incurred".
"A plaster on a wooden leg," says Vlaams Belang Tuesday. "Again this purple-green government fails to structurally reform," it says. "While in the Netherlands far-reaching measures were already taken last year, here they wait until spring and summer to do something about the strangling energy prices."
"The energy agreement that was announced with the big drum, turns out to be a measure for nothing," responds PVDA people's representative Peter Mertens. "The gas bill has increased by more than 2,000 euros in one year. It is now doing away with barely 90 euros with a VAT reduction that only applies during the spring and summer. Prices at the pump are for the first time in history above 2 euros per litre, and in return the government is reducing excise duties by a mere 17 cents. The government is leaving families in our country out in the cold, yet again."