Phasing out oil and gas heating: legislation may be delayed

This is reported by the “Kleine Zeitung” (Saturday edition). So it is hardly realistic for the law to come into force in January. There is no constitutional majority in the Parliament. New rules for oil and gas heating should come into force from 2023. The law envisages phasing out gas heating by 2040 and oil heating by 2035. The installation of gas heaters in new homes is to be banned from the beginning of 2023. Broken oil and coal heating systems should only then be replaced with renewable heating systems.

According to the report, the delay is only partly due to objections from the SPO mandis, which require a two-thirds majority. In fact, even the Chamber of Commerce (WKO) blocking the regulations is braking in the background. The report quoted an insider as saying, “Every comma that has to be changed in the current talks has been blocked by the OVP, which ultimately delays everything.” For the Greens, the legislation is central to climate protection.

SPO “Somewhat Surprised”

The government’s energy spokesmen, Lucas Hammer (Greens) and Tanja Graf (OVP), confirmed the missing two-thirds majority on Saturday. At the same time, he emphasized in a statement to APA that negotiations with the SPO have not yet been completed, “but all three factions are working to ensure that an agreement is reached as soon as possible – preferably by December”. In.”

SPÖ Energy spokesman Alois Schroll was “somewhat shocked” by these reports. “These were clearly based on misinformation from government circles,” Schroll said in a broadcast, adding that so far there has not been a single round of talks with the OVP and the Greens. And that’s because the government doesn’t agree internally.” Here, too, the government’s work on the energy transition has completely stalled. So far there has been only one event on the EWG that was purely informational. SPO constructive Ready to negotiate.

For NEOS Energy spokeswoman Karin Doppelbauer, the delay is a “fatal sign in the midst of the current energy crisis”. “There is an urgent need for a rapid phase-out of gas in heating systems. In particular, the installation restriction in new buildings is very important to reduce gas consumption in Austria in the short and long term. This law is a step towards climate neutrality. would be an important step forward.”

“Fridays for the Future” was “disturbing”. The NGO accused the government of failing to eliminate the gas.

The topic can still be put on the agenda

The law was removed from the agenda of this year’s economic committee on Wednesday due to a lack of a two-thirds majority, according to “Kleine Zeitung”. Newspaper refers to conversation circles. The fact is that the EWG is not on the agenda for the next meeting of the committee. As per the rules of procedure of the National Council, the agenda is prepared by all the parliamentary groups and then fixed in a circular.

Only in a meeting of the Committee, an item can be removed from the agenda by a two-thirds majority of the members present. Also, it is possible to add other agenda items. In principle, it would still be possible for the EEC to end up on the agenda. If it is not discussed on Wednesday, the beginning of January is not possible. Only last week, provincial governors spoke in favor of early implementation of the EEC.

Subsidy for Switching

It is planned that the switch to renewable heating systems will be accompanied by a financing program. A total of around two billion euros is available until 2026. Replacing old oil boilers gives private households 7,500 euros in federal funding. To switch from gas heating is 9,500 euros. Grants are also available for renovation of buildings. For multi-storey residential buildings there are special conveyor rails. For those on low incomes, up to 100 percent of new heating systems are funded through a “clean heating for all” subsidy.

Climate Protection Minister Leonor Gaevsler (Greens) described the legislation as an important step in ending “painful dependence on Russian gas”. Households account for a quarter of gas consumption, and the aim is to conserve this by phasing out fossil fuels.