Energy prices: Prime Ministers are pushing for relief

Electricity tax and fuel prices Prime Minister's Conference urges rapid relief As of: October 22, 2026 • 8:12 p.m

Lower the electricity tax, cap fuel costs: The prime ministers are calling on the government to provide noticeable relief for the people in the country. It is believed that the federal government has this leeway.

Energy prices have risen sharply in recent months as a result of international crises. If the federal states have their way, consumers in Germany should be relieved of the costs as quickly as possible.

In a resolution, the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK) in Berlin called on the federal government to quickly reduce electricity taxes for everyone. To this end, the MPK called for a timely proposal for a fuel price cap.

The resolution on electricity tax states that despite all the relief measures, energy prices are still too high in international comparison. “The heads of government of the federal states are therefore calling on the federal government to use financial leeway in the budget as quickly as possible to reduce electricity taxes for everyone,” it said.

It is the opinion that the federal government has this leeway, explained the MPK chairman, the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate Gordon Schnieder (CDU). "We promised people that energy would become more affordable, especially that electricity would become cheaper for everyone. We have to keep this promise."

The reduction in electricity tax was already provided for in the Black-Red coalition agreement. However, so far it has only been implemented for industry, forestry and agriculture. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently called for a reduction for everyone. However, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) does not yet see any scope for this in the budget.

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The Prime Minister also wants the federal government to make a proposal as soon as possible to limit fuel prices in the long term. They want to use a fuel price cap to give people the security "that there is some form of justice, that they don't pay at the gas station for companies that use it to increase their profits," said Lower Saxony's head of government, Olaf Lies (SPD).

The federal government recently announced that it would talk to the oil industry about a fuel price cap. The aim is to introduce the cap by January 1st at the latest. There is currently a “tank discount” of 16.7 cents per liter in Germany. However, the measure is limited until the end of the year. According to a study by the Ifo Institute, drivers are still not fully aware of this.

Since the start of the Iran war at the end of February, international energy prices have risen dramatically, particularly due to restricted oil and gas deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz. The important sea route has been largely blocked for world trade since the beginning of the war. There are also repeated attacks on tankers trying to pass the strait.

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This topic in the program: BR24 Radio | News | Oct 22, 2026 | 7:01 p.m. MDR aktuell - The news radio | News | Oct 22, 2026 | 7:07 p.m