The bill introduced by members of the current opposition on freezing energy prices completely ignores small and medium-sized businesses; This is a very bad solution, said Climate Minister Anna Łukaszewska-Trzeciakowska. She added that these companies could therefore “completely disappear from our environment.”
Energy prices and wind turbines – the project is separated
On November 28, the group of parliamentarians Polska 2050-TD and KO submitted to the Sejm a draft amendment to the law on support for energy consumers, extending the energy price freeze until June 30, 2024, which also contains provisions restricting construction liberalize power plants. wind farms and wind turbines in Poland. The project was criticized, among others, by PiS politicians.
The first reading of the bill, submitted by MPs from KO, Polski 2050 and PSL, was scheduled for Wednesday in the Sejm.
Co-chairman of the New Left, Robert Biedroń, said on TVN24 on Tuesday evening that it had been decided that the two cases would be separated; the wind turbines law will therefore become a separate law; and there will be a law on freezing energy prices, which will be discussed at the next session of the Sejm.
“Semi-annual project
Our bill – well thought out, comprehensive and without the insertion of ‘something for everyone’ – focuses on the well-being of Polish families, small and medium-sized enterprises, local authorities, sensitive entities, schools, kindergartens and orphanages. It presupposes the certainty for all energy consumers that they will know exactly which bills they will pay at the end of next year. This allows them to plan their budgets because they know how much energy, heating and gas they will cost
– said Minister Łukaszewska-Trzeciakowska about Telewizja Trwam.
However, she emphasized that the project of the current opposition, the new parliamentary majority, is a “six-month project”.
Then there is uncertainty. We don’t know what will happen in six months. We don’t expect it to be cheaper. Rates are accepted all year round, so it should be assumed that from the middle of the year it will be more expensive and much more expensive. This is the first element: introducing uncertainty into Polish homes, and in recent years there have been a “flock of black swans”, unpredictable events. Introducing a new safety defect is very harmful
– she assessed.
““We are going to pay more for a hairdresser, a mechanic, a seamstress”
She also pointed out that the draft of the new parliamentary majority “completely omits small and medium-sized businesses”.
Hairdressers, small shops, tailors, car mechanics. They will not be covered by the benefits of this law at all. This means they may not be able to pay the bills and disappear from our environment. Secondly, they will pass on the higher energy prices to our bills. We pay more for a hairdresser, a mechanic, a seamstress or for bread in the shop next door. This is a very bad solution. We will appeal for changes to these provisions
– said the Minister of Climate.
Two projects
The bill states that the cost of protective measures for half a year will amount to PLN 16.5 billion.
The project assumes an extension of maximum energy prices for households from PLN 412 per MWh net by mid-2024 to the current consumption limit, reduced by 50%, because the regulations only apply for half a year. Above the limit, the rate of PLN 693 per MWh must be maintained as the maximum price, which must also be paid by local authorities and public utilities. The project maintains solutions to reduce gas and heat prices.
The COVID-19 Fund was mentioned as a source of financing, which will be financed from the gas contribution to the Price Difference Fund 2022 and other funds.
The government’s bill on the protection of energy consumers, which will also have its first reading in the Sejm on Wednesday, in turn assumes that the current rules will be extended until 2024. It will cost a total of more than PLN 31 billion, of which PLN 25.5 billion in 2024 and PLN 5.6 billion in 2026. The source of financing is the state budget, the minister noted. As she emphasized, when calculating costs, the government still takes into account possible tariff changes in 2024, approved by the chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office.
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olnk/PAP
Source: wPolityce