Verband der Öffentlichen Wirtschaft und Gemeinwirtschaft Österreichs (VÖWG) – Austria

Electricity/gas bridging guarantee in connection with the coronavirus crisis

In the course of the coronavirus crisis, many companies in Austria have confirmed to members of VÖWG that they will run into liquidity problems and will no longer be able to pay their electricity and gas bills. As a consequence, shutting off the electricity/gas supply because of unpaid bills would mean an immediate shutdown of the electricity/gas supply for these companies. An unsecured deferral is also not financially viable for the energy supplier (1 payment default destroys the margin from 100 industrial contracts). A proposed solution for this problem could be a general electricity/gas failure guarantee that provides for up to 3 months of supply for companies, so that no shutdowns have to take place until further notice.

Other Challenges are:

• Stabilize our networks in extraordinary demand situations (lower consumption)
• Stabilize and guarantee supply of electricity, gas and heating in health sector
• Quick solutions for extra demands and installation
• Human resource management of our staff (critical situation if personnel is not available)
• Stabilize our partners in economy: suppliers as construction industry
• Stabilize our customers and their cashflows

Demands to EU Institutions:

• Postponement of "uncritical" deadlines (Smart Meter Roll-Out)
• New Assessment of regulatory targets in 2021
• Enforce Legal framework for DSOs (i.e. easier procurement rules) for time after crises (more investments in shorter time necessary)

Website: www.voewg.at/