The government is a protective measures shield during energy crisis to face the blow of the rise in prices. For two years they have been putting together, redefining and expanding their anti-crisis plans to deal with the escalating crisis. electricity, natural gas and fuel prices.
The European Commission sees the situation in energy markets under control and has begun demanding member states to put an end to extraordinary anti-crisis shields, so it is time to redefine how to implement or improve structural protection measures. vulnerable households. And in the midst of the election campaign, Spanish political parties clash over how to express their campaign. Help with electricity and gas bills.
Currently, the main assistance of a permanent nature is expressed through electrical and thermal social ties. HE electric social bond It allows you to apply 25% to 40% discount on electricity bills depending on customers’ vulnerability (although the discounts have been temporarily increased to 65% and 80% as part of anti-crisis measures) and access the bill. You must have a contract with a regulated electricity tariff called a voluntary price for small consumers (PVPC).
And those who benefit from the electricity social bonus, thermal social bond, A check helps pay for some of these families’ gas, water and heating costs. The thermal bonus currently amounts to a single payment of between 40 and 375 euros per year, depending on the degree of vulnerability and the climate zone in which the beneficiaries live.
PP: a single bonus in the form of a check
HE People’s Party includes a plan to unify in the electoral program a single energy social bond help vulnerable households to cover the cost of energy resources. It will not mean a discount on the bill, but will be referred to as a ‘help check’ and is a single program where consumers can benefit regardless of the rate they are committed to (regulated or free market).
The PP did not specify how and who would finance it. the cost of assistance from the social bond. Currently, the financing of social bonds for electricity (at a cost of more than €800 million per year due to expansion during the crisis) is undertaken by all companies in the electricity sector, while thermal bonds (some 260 million) are paid in public finance from the general government budget. The current Government warns that merging into a single program could be the gateway to freeing utilities from bearing the cost so far and burdening it entirely on the public budget.
PP sources refrain from confirming in detail how it plans to finance a single social bond and limit themselves to stating that protection is sought. “To complete with available resources and, if insufficient, with credit supplements due to PGE, as a social policy”. Similarly, these sources point out to EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA of the Prensa Ibérica group that the new single social bonus aims to be “progressive and fairer”, because the highest incomes will earn more, and when everyone pays the same, the harm is not as it is now. the lowest revenues”, the utilities transferring the cost of the social bonus to all their customers, and the greater the weight of PGE, the more progress will be made.
José María Aznar’s ‘think tank’ and the Foundation for Analysis and Social Research (Faes), also directly in the PP’s orbit, presented a document last week with proposals for an electricity reform that coincidentally involves the creation of a unified social system. The bond was defended by pointing out two obvious possibilities that any energy company or PGE could finance it. “Eliminate the electricity social bonus and the thermal social bonus and create a single energy subsidy (check type) funded by all energy suppliers (gas, gasoline and electricity) or General Government Budgets,” the foundation said.
formation far right VoxIn the event of a conservative coalition emerging after the elections, the PP’s possible partner does not include any suggestions on how to add the aid to electricity and gas bills, and limits itself to pointing to a reduction in taxes. included in the invoices. “We will introduce a gradual reduction in taxes and fees, with an emphasis on the supply of the family home and especially extended families (electricity, water, gas…),” says Ultra party, without further details.
How to “strengthen” the left and ligaments
Left parties that are likely to repeat the government in the coalition, PSOE and Add, It continues to keep social bonds separate for light and heat, confirm that they have committed the regulated rate as a requirement to access them, and bear a portion of the cost of direct assistance to all electricity companies (marketers, distributors, carriers, generators…) approved last year.
HE PSOE After temporarily promoting an increase in discounts during the energy crisis, he is only betting on “strengthening” thermal and electrical ties, after proposing to create the figure of the “electro-dependent consumer” – individuals with high electricity consumption needs. home, especially for medical treatment devices – thus allowing them to receive differentiated treatment with discounts on their electricity bills.
To add proposes a reform so that the implementation and renewal of electrical and thermal bonds is automatic, as there are beneficiaries who have so far had to claim them and thousands of consumers who have met the requirements have not activated the procedures.
Led by Vice President Yolanda Díaz, the formation also proposes to revolutionize the electricity tariff with a new system where taxes applied and fees and tolls on the regulated part of the receipt are reduced based on each household’s consumption. A model that aims to provide a guaranteed minimum consumption of electricity, gas and water. In the case of electricity, for example, this minimum vital consumption will be applied to the first 1,500 kilowatt-hours each year, with a super-discounted VAT of 4% and a reduction in regulated fares and tolls, which will automatically become social. rate in cost. zero for vulnerable consumers.