Gas companies fear government aid will break the market and demand discounts for all customers.

Companies in the gas sector support the Government in its attempt to reduce the impact of gas. price increase Consumers are particularly vulnerable and value it positively, even if they believe that the measures initiated in the context of the energy crisis will only be temporary. And gas companies warn that the Manager’s assistance plan is for regulated rates only. it can break the market and threaten the stability of companies. offer free market pricesayes, it does claim tax breaks that help reduce the bill for all customers, not just some.

this employer Sedigas – Bringing together marketers, transport and distribution network companies and suppliers in the sector- Government-designed compensations could unleash a “mass exodus” of customers towards regulated ratesIt will now have prices much lower than those on the market thanks to the so-called last resort rates (TUR). A loss of customers shaking the “sustainability and competition of the free market”, “questioning the liberalization process undertaken by the industry” twenty years ago; and “compromising the stability of the system.”

Gas companies are aware of the need to take measures to increase consumer protection due to the energy crisis, but they advocate the protection of all consumers against price increases. The gas industry celebrates the reduction of VAT on the gas bill from at least 21% to 5% by the end of the year, but wants other taxes on its bills to be lowered as well, such as those that electricity consumers already enjoy.

Gas companies are demanding that the Special Tax on Hydrocarbons (IEH) be reduced to the minimum allowed by the European Union. Currently, the Hydrocarbon Tax applies a rate of EUR 0.65 per gigajoule (equivalent to EUR 2.34 per equivalent megawatt hour) to local customers and most industrial customers. European regulations set a minimum of 0.30 euros per gigajoule (1.08 euros per megawatt hour) for all member states.

Of the few companies that offer regulated gas rate – they are required by law to market it Naturgy, Endesa, Iberdrola and Totalenergies- It is admitted that in recent days they have recorded avalanche questions about their jump from customers to regulated business, and it is admitted that they predicted a change in trend for a massive contraction of regulated rates, which, years later, would result in a shrinking customer portfolio. free market rates. It’s a “big move” that confirms it has already identified the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC), tasked with overseeing the energy sector.

The number of customers benefiting from free gas market prices, the price of which is freely determined by the companies, is much higher than the customers of regulated enterprises whose prices are determined quarterly by the Government based on the evolution of international hydrocarbon prices, but there is a maximum limit to their increase since last year. With last year’s closing data, approximately 6.5 million customers signed free tariff contracts (more than 80% of the total), and 1.5 million continued at regulated rates.

The executive guarantees to allocate the entire necessary public budget to close the millionaire gap that the new relief measures will create in the accounts of the Spanish gas system, and this could be triggered by this massive flight of customers towards regulated rates. The Ministry of Ecological Transition will approve a deal, as outlined in the royal decree approved by the Cabinet this Tuesday. 3,000 million exceptional loans to cover the cost of these measures, but what does it promisee “This item will be increased by the required amount. to close the real gap caused” by the end of 2023 from now on.