Vienna heating bill to witness a 50% hike in 2022

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen English
23 Sep 2022 23:14

Austrian households to be hit with unprecedented energy bills as inflation crisis worsens

A worker operates equipment belonging to GCA (Gas Connect Austria) and TAG (Trans Austria Gas pipelines) at one of the largest interconnection gas hubs in Europe at Baumgarten an der March, Lower Austria (JOE KLAMAR / AFP).

Austrian newspaper, Kleine Zeitung, reported on Friday that central heating bills for around 100,000 homes, will increase by 65% in Styria, a state in southwestern Austria.

The newspaper cited the Austrian President, Van der Bellen, stating that the country will, "survive the winter" and that he, "with cautious optimism", prospects that Austria's economy will cope, however, heating could be reduced.

The biggest energy suppliers in Austrian southern state Carinthia, Kelag Energie & Warme, told the paper that energy bills will be 20-40% higher in 2022, compared to that in 2021.

Last August, inflation in Austria hit 9.3 percent, and despite government anti-inflationary policies, energy and food prices have continued to rise, according to Statistics Austria.

20,000 Austrians attended a "Prices Down" rally in downtown Vienna, as per OGB. Meanwhile, the city police department refused to share their estimates. Unionists accused the big businesses of taking advantage of private consumers who are struggling to pay skyrocketing energy, heating, as well as food bills.

Protest in Vienna , Austria

"Lower prices!", "Increase pensions by 10 percent", "We don't want millions, we want to eat, warm ourselves, live!"

Demonstrators are protesting because of inflation and rising energy prices pic.twitter.com/hgFQCDVH7X
— Спринтер (@Sprinter88000) September 17, 2022

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US and the EU have multiplied punitive measures to isolate Russia by targeting its banking system and freezing the assets of its leaders and its industries.

Many of the consequences, such as higher gas, electricity, and food prices, have already occurred or will occur. Meanwhile, western citizens are bearing the brunt of the sanctions on Russia, as gas prices are rising in a suffocating manner.