Winter is approaching and for the war in Ukraine , cutting electricity consumption is practically mandatory .
Brussels is preparing to launch the first part of the energy package by putting on the table first of all the reduction of electricity demand, but also the taxation on extra-profits for energy multinationals and the solidarity contribution from the companies that work the fuel fossils.
In the next few hours , the Commission will discuss the measures in Strasbourg and, barring twists and turns, there will be no price cap: with Moscow having closed the taps, it appears to be exceeded, but above all a general price ceiling for gas imported from the EU, supported by about fifteen countries in Italy in the lead, do not meet the necessary consensus.
The President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen will then give the speech on the State of the Union at the Plenary of the European Parliament , a highly anticipated speech also because it will be the first occasion in which the Commission will present its proposals on energy.
THE MEASURES - From what emerges, the EU will identify a monthly consumption reduction threshold - which should be around 10% - that each country will have to respect. The comparison will be made with respect to the same reference month and on the basis of an average consumption of the 5 years prior to November 1, 2022. But it will be up to national governments to decide at what times to trigger the cut.
The draft of the proposal states that "the compulsory reduction should result from" a cut made "in 3-4 hours per working day on average" , which normally correspond to the peak hours of consumption. This range - it continues - can include "also the generation of electricity from renewable sources". In choosing these hours, the Member States "have a margin of discretion" that also extends to the areas of applicability of the cut in consumption. But with the package - which will follow the procedure ex Article 122 of the Treaties, which does not require unanimity - for European citizens, using two household appliances at the same time during certain hours of the day could be in fact impossible .
The so-called "windfall tax" ( tax on extra-profits ) will have as its pivot a mandatory limit on the revenues of operators producing energy from renewable, nuclear and lignite, ie other than gas. The limit will apply to revenues per megawatt hour: the orientation of recent days was to fix it around 200 euros . The surplus of revenues deriving from the application of the cap will have to be "passed on" to citizens and businesses "exposed to high electricity prices", reads the draft.
(Unioneonline / D)
