Exclusive: Germany’s gas levy cannot be implemented as planned, say sources

By Markus Wacket

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German authorities must amend its power safety regulation once more in September as its fuel levy can’t but be imposed on all customers, together with these with mounted costs contracts, authorities and parliamentary sources instructed Reuters on Wednesday.

A fuel levy, which had been set to come back into power from October, was envisaged as a instrument to gather funds from all fuel customers to assist ailing fuel importers which are scuffling with hovering costs as a result of falling Russian fuel export flows.

Business sources instructed Reuters that round one quarter of fuel shopper contracts have clauses that may assure mounted costs, which might make including on a levy tough.

The economic system ministry declined to remark.

Additional particulars on the levy had been to be introduced in August, however in response to a draft regulation seen by Reuters on Wednesday, the federal government plans to regulate the surcharge at the very least each three months to replicate modifications in fuel costs.

“A fuel shortage scenario” is the perquisite to impose the levy, which the federal government has already decided with falling Russian fuel flows, the draft regulation confirmed.

The levy was seen as a fairer fund-collecting mechanism than a basic worth adjustment clause that may enable suppliers themselves to move worth will increase on to clients, which consultants see as legally contestable.

After the federal government raised its fuel storage targets for winter final month, extra prices will come up and likewise be partially handed on to remaining customers, most likely from November, trade sources instructed Reuters.

(Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Riham Alkousaa and Vera Eckert; Enhancing by Miranda Murray and Louise Heavens)