With the Fuel Emissions Trading Act and the associated pricing of CO2, the state is tightening the price screw for fossil fuels. This also affects the district heating prices of Stadtwerke Gießen.
Driving forward climate protection and achieving the ambitious CO2 savings targets - these are the two primary goals that politicians are pursuing with the passing of the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG). The central element of the BEHG: from January 2021, CO2 will also have a price for end customers. Each tonne emitted will then cost 25 euros. Further increases have already been set for the next five years. This government surcharge will make fossil fuels more expensive and gradually make them less attractive. "The BEHG is actually intended to affect end customers," explains Ina Weller, company spokesperson for Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG).
Because SWG still uses certain amounts of fossil fuels - mainly natural gas - to produce its district heating, the CO2 surcharge leads to an increase in district heating prices. "We have calculated the new costs resulting from the BEHG and allocated them to the total sales volume," says Ina Weller, describing the process. In concrete terms, this means that district heating will be 0.604 cent more expensive per kilowatt hour net.
Despite the politically desired price increase, Giessen district heating remains attractive and, thanks to its pioneering technology and maximum efficiency, a real alternative to heating your own home. After all, those who heat with oil, for example, will be significantly more heavily burdened by the new CO2 surcharge.
Ways out of the cost trap
"Our hands are tied with this price increase. But we are helping our customers to compensate for the price increase," adds Ina Weller. The fact is: The advisors at the SWG customer centre on Marktplatz have lots of useful tips to help customers save energy. Admittedly, in times of coronavirus, the usual face-to-face meetings have had to be cancelled. This is because the energy advice centre is closed until further notice. But the vast majority of advice can also be given over the phone. SWG is also working on establishing other contact channels, such as online presentations on energy-saving topics or video chats.
Anyone who would like to find out more about how to use energy efficiently can contact SWG by telephone on 0800 23 02 100. The energy advice team will of course also answer enquiries by email: energieberatung@stadtwerke-giessen.de