In the energy policy committee of the state parliament on Wednesday, the black-green government factions rejected the joint state parliament initiative by the FPÖ, SPÖ and NEOS to withdraw the massive increase in electricity prices.
On April 1st, Illwerke VKW increase energy prices. Then the approximately 180,000 household customers in Vorarlberg will have to spend significantly more money on electricity and gas.
“Don’t give up”
FPÖ state chairman Christof Bitschi in a broadcast: “It is clear to us: the massive increase in electricity prices in Vorarlberg must be reversed. We have spoken out against it from the start. However, the black-green state government and the state governor simply waved this increase through and the ÖVP/Green, with the rejection of our application in the committee, continues to act unilaterally as representatives of illwerke/vkw, instead of first representing the interests of the people of Vorarlberg”. The FPÖ state chairman announced that he would “certainly not let go here either”. “We will work until those responsible in the state government and state companies lower the prices again!”
“General Withdrawal”
The managing SPÖ club chairwoman Manuela Auer: “Ultimately, the Vorarlbergers pay for these subsidies themselves.” For many households in the country, the prices would continue to rise despite everything. “And that while the Illwerke continue to make profits. What is needed here is a general withdrawal of the increase,” demands Auer. “If you are in the comfortable position in Vorarlberg of having a state-owned energy company that also makes millions in profits, you should also use this for the benefit of the citizens.”
“Not transparent”
NEOS MP Garry Thür agrees: “We NEOS continue to oppose the electricity price increase by the state energy supplier illwerke vkw AG as of April 1, 2023. On the one hand, the electricity price increase is still on very shaky legal grounds, on the other hand, the daily price on the European electricity exchange has fallen to well below 15 cents per kWh on average in the last 3 months. The procurement prices of illwerke vkw AG from the years 2021 and 2022, which were agreed on the futures market for the year 2023, are still not transparent for the end customer.”
