Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) has advocated for a further reduction in the electricity tax. He stated on Thursday to RTL and ntv that while the government has already approved a tax cut for 600,000 businesses, a similar reduction should also be extended to private consumers. However, he did not specify a timeline or an exact amount for this potential cut.
Bilger also referenced existing measures, noting that electricity grid fees have already been lowered. He emphasized that any further action by the federal government must involve setting priorities. The CDU politician stressed the importance of strengthening public transport, including buses and trains, noting that both federal and state governments have already allocated billions of euros for this purpose. These funds include support for the Deutschlandticket and investments aimed at creating reliable public transit.
Furthermore, Bilger deems the fuel discount necessary given the current high price of gasoline. Although he personally would prefer to avoid such a subsidy, he explained that the government was compelled to react due to the elevated fuel costs. “We have seen that the prices are so high that we need relief for commuters and businesses alike,” he stated.
At the same time, Bilger noted that high fossil fuel prices may accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. He suggested that rising fuel costs could prompt people to consider switching to electric cars. To support this shift, the government must ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place. “We must become independent of fossil fuels. That is why we are promoting e-mobility,” he explained.
Regarding infrastructure, Bilger confirmed that there are currently 210,000 publicly accessible charging points. He stressed that it is crucial that the electrical grid can keep pace with the increasing number of electric vehicles and added that the government must ensure the charging infrastructure grows accordingly.
