Munich: high gas prices put pressure on the wallet – Munich

Tens of thousands of Munich residents have to calculate exactly how they can make ends meet financially every month. It’s often about cents that many retirees and low-wage earners can no longer afford to cook a warm meal at the end of the month.

But these days, letters from energy providers are landing in Munich’s mailboxes that are likely to mean a disaster for many people: On average, they will have to pay 25 to 30 percent more for natural gas at Stadtwerke München (SWM) from January 1 onwards than before, that is in a two-person household around 23 euros per month. In addition, there are around four euros a month for electricity. Politicians and social organizations are therefore sounding the alarm.

In the city council, the parliamentary group Die Linke / Die Party made a first push “for social warmth in the coming winter” on Thursday. She calls for a city council resolution, according to which the SWM are obliged to “introduce a social tariff for the low-income at short notice”. The costs should not be charged to the municipal utilities, but “publicly counter-financed”.

In addition, according to the request of the Left, the municipal utilities are to be obliged to offer “a free basic energy contingent” for the customers and in return to burden households with particularly high energy consumption (which, in the view of the Left Group, concerns particularly high-income households) financially more heavily. Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) should also work at the federal level to ensure that people at risk of poverty in Munich receive a one-off energy payment of 200 euros within the next few weeks.

At the Münchner Stadtwerke, the political demands for a social tariff for electricity and energy costs have been known for many years. But SWM is simply not concerned with how much money a customer has available. That is why the municipal subsidiary also works closely with the Munich social department and the social bourgeoisie. They could provide direct support and, together with those affected, check where costs could be saved. So far, according to information from Stadtwerke spokesman Michael Silva, the number of complaints and inquiries about the price increases is “within” what is regularly the case with cost increases.

When giving energy advice, consultants examine potential savings, and on a second visit there are energy-saving items

For years, SWM has also been offering free energy advice to low-wage earners. During home visits, the advisors check which measures can be used to save money in the home. The Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, for example, has a similar service. On November 11th there will be an energy-saving consultation hour from 12 noon to 6 pm in the Diakonia (Dachauer Straße 192). In addition, Caritas offers free advice for low-wage earners.

At an initial appointment, the experts check potential savings. “On a second visit, we distribute free energy-saving items such as LED lamps, switchable power strips, various thermometers or hygrometers, or install new shower heads,” says Thomas Keimerl, Caritas expert on energy saving. Given the steep rise in energy prices, Caritas fears that for many low-wage earners “there will be high back payments, electricity debts and electricity blocks due to unpaid bills”.

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