Instead of making a clear commitment to Germany as an industrial location and starting the transformation with seven league boots, the federal government has again postponed important future decisions. This is how the members of the alliance pro bridge electricity price evaluate the exam results from Meseberg. The alliance members called on the federal government to quickly decide on a temporary bridge electricity price, because investment decisions are either imminent or not at all. Any week later is too late for many companies.
If you don’t decide now, you risk a lot: competitiveness will be lost, the green transformation is in danger and employees have to fear for their jobs. The entire industrial value chain in Europe is threatened with lasting damage. Without a bridge electricity price from January 1, 2024, jobs and entire locations will continue to be threatened. The alliance announced that it would continue to join forces and increase the pressure on the federal government.
The Alliance for Bridge Electricity Prices is a coalition of associations and industrial unions in energy-intensive industries. Together they represent 1.1 million employees in 8,000 energy-intensive companies.
Statements by the representatives of the Allianz pro bridge electricity price
Franziska Erdle, General Manager of the WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle e.V. We therefore appeal to the federal government not to shelve the issue of electricity costs after Meseberg, but to continue to deal with it intensively and to initiate appropriate measures to ensure competitive electricity prices in order to prevent industrial value creation from migrating. Press contact: Teresa Schad, 030 726207 111
dr Matthias Frederichs, General Manager of the Federal Association of Building Materials – Stone and Earth e.V. (bbs)Meseberg could have paved the way for competitive electricity prices. A further weakening of the energy-intensive industries must urgently be prevented, as the federal states and parts of the government factions have long recognized. It is now a matter of sending out a clear signal for Germany as an industrial location – with a bridging electricity price for energy-intensive industry and retention of peak compensation for electricity tax. The current uncertainty facing workers and businesses is grossly negligent. Press Contact: Luke Voutta, 030 72619 9923
dr Johann Overath, General Manager of the German Glass Industry Association. It is five to twelve for the energy-intensive basic industries in Germany. In principle, long-term measures are welcome, but we need the support now! A bridging electricity price would have an immediate effect and make it much easier for companies in the glass industry to invest in a climate-neutral future. Because the electrification of sub-processes in glass production will be an important pillar in the decarbonization of the entire glass industry.Press contact: Dorothee Richardt, 0211 902278 25
Jörg Hofmann, First Chairman of IG Metall During its retreat, the federal government cleared up old points of contention and launched well-known projects. Apparently it wasn’t enough for new ideas and impulses. It would be urgently necessary to relieve the energy-intensive industry by introducing a bridging electricity price until the sufficient expansion of regenerative energies. Unfortunately, the federal government has not yet been able to bring itself to do so. As IG Metall, we will continue to campaign for this sensible measure of targeted location and job security. Press contact: Artur Siemens, 069 6693 2872
Stefan Körzell, Member of the DGB Federal Executive Board With a view to electricity prices, the results from Meseberg are disappointing. Instead of launching decisive measures, the federal government is acting only hesitantly. The situation is serious, time is short: we need clarity quickly in order to keep industrial production in the country. A reduced industrial electricity price that promotes good work, value creation and transformation must now come quickly. We need it to bridge the gap until enough renewable and cheaper energies are available. The federal government must not continue to maneuver and sit out the issue – there is too much at stake for that. Press contact: Jan Piegsa, 030 24060 216
Kerstin Maria Rippel, General Manager of the Steel Industry AssociationIn Meseberg, the opportunity to set a clear signal for the climate-neutral future of our industry in Germany was missed. Because that is exactly what the steel industry wants and can make an enormous contribution to by saving 55 million tons of CO2 per year. In order for this to succeed, companies today must be able to survive in international competition. The price of electricity is one of the decisive factors here. The transformation into a climate-neutral future therefore requires political measures that buffer the competitive disadvantage of the excessively high electricity costs – and do it now!Press contact: Klaus Schmidtke, 30 23 25 546 15
Winfried Schaur, President Die Papierindustrie e.V. The federal government has missed an important opportunity to give German industry growth prospects and planning security for investments. The important bridge electricity price was not decided, and the extension of peak compensation was postponed. The growth opportunities law that has been passed will not be sufficient to set the necessary transformation impulses. Press contact: Christina Labusch, 0175 7035957
Markus Steilemann, President of the Chemical Industry Association – VCIThe federal government must no longer ignore the alarm call from the energy-intensive industry. A bridge electricity price is not only desirable, it is an absolute must in this crisis. The traffic light must no longer stand idly by as many companies in our industry lose confidence as a result of production declines and lost orders. To stop deindustrialization, she must NOW restore belief in location. Well-sounding long-term programs are not enough. We need acute measures. Press contact: Ilka Ennen, 069 2556 1549
Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Union With the Meseberg resolutions, the federal government has taken the first steps towards improving the site conditions. But that cannot and must not have been the last word. What we need now is an industrial-political liberation that puts us back on an international level with other regions – quickly and sustainably at the same time. For the energy-intensive industries, this includes a bridging electricity price, which acts as a massive start-up aid for climate-friendly modernization. We have to pull out all the stops so that the industry invests in the transformation of the domestic locations now – and does not migrate abroad. This is the only way to guarantee good jobs, a secure supply of other industries and progress in climate protection. Press contact: Lars Ruzic, 0511 7631 135