Sakova: Targeted Energy Aid Will Cover 86 percent of Households Next Year

(TA3,'V politike', 1 November) Following changes to legislation, targeted energy aid will cover 86 percent of households next year, down from some 90 percent receiving it this year, Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) said on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, adding that the amount allocated for this purpose from the state budget will thus decrease from the current €430 million to an estimated €340 million. Sakova noted that people primarily perceive energy aid through 'energy vouchers'. However, these apply only to households supplied with heat via a central heating system, and only where the price of heat has increased. "Everyone else living in family houses and not using central heating receives energy aid through their bills, meaning they are protected from increases in electricity and gas prices," explained the minister. She attributed the reduction in the number of households eligible for energy aid to legislative changes, such as the inclusion of dividends in household income calculations and the limitation on the number of supply points for which a property owner can receive aid. Meanwhile, her opponent on the show, MP Marian Viskupic (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) stated that this is 'helicopter waste of money' and poorly handled task. "From my point of view, the premier is right. The targeted energy aid scheme has been a failure," stated Viskupic, referring to an earlier statement by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD). In addition, the scheme incurred unnecessary costs for the creation of new jobs to administer it, he said, criticising also the fact that it doesn't cover households using wood or coal to heat their houses. The two politicians concurred that Slovakia will need a new nuclear power source, but differed in their assessment of the preparations for the project. While Sakova reiterated that no contract for the construction of the power plant itself has yet been signed and that the coalition has agreed to shift responsibility for preparing the project to the Government Office, Viskupic criticised the lack of information and what he described as a non-transparent process. Sakova and Viskupic also differed in their assessment of the potential relocation of production of Audi's luxury models from Bratislava to the USA. According to Sakova, no final decision has yet been made, and the government is doing its best to ensure that, within the internal competition among corporate plants, the local facilities secure new models for production in the coming years. She cited Audi's electric model as an example. Viskupic thinks that the business environment, as well as the tax and levy burden on companies in Slovakia, worsens the position of manufacturers to such an extent that even potential tax relief negotiated by the ministry is of no help. ko