Rising Gas Prices Mitigated: Actions Taken by the Chamber of Commerce
In the heart of Germany, the craft businesses in Halle are grappling with soaring energy prices that they perceive as existentially threatening. The CEO of the Halle Chamber of Crafts, Dirk Neumann, has been a vocal advocate for relief in energy prices for these small businesses.
Neumann's demands are echoed by the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), which has proposed a unique solution: a price brake in the energy wholesale market. This proposal would result in a gas price significantly below the current level for all consumers, including craft businesses.
The rationale behind this proposal is simple. Craft businesses, like many others, use gas not only for heating but also as an operational resource. A price brake would provide immediate financial relief, making it more manageable for these businesses to continue their operations.
However, the current German government's approach contrasts with this proposal. The government's energy relief measures prioritise fiscal responsibility and targeted tax cuts to selected industries, without broad relief for craft businesses or an explicit price brake mechanism in the wholesale energy market.
The government's approach has been met with criticism from energy industry lobby groups, who argue for broader tax cuts to incentivise investment in climate-friendly technologies. Meanwhile, the battery storage sector is advocating for extended grid fee exemptions to support flexibility in the energy system.
Despite this, the Halle Chamber of Crafts and the Central Association of German Crafts continue to press for relief. Neumann reiterates the need for relief in energy prices for craft businesses, stating that it is existential for them to mitigate the price increase.
As of mid-2025, the Central Association of German Crafts has proposed a pre-war price level as the trigger for the price brake in the energy wholesale market. This would be a significant step towards providing much-needed relief to craft businesses struggling with high energy prices.
References:
- Bundesregierung beschließt umfassende Maßnahmen zur Energiekrise
- ZDH fordert Energiepreisbremse für Handwerksbetriebe
- Germany's Energy Policy in Crisis: A Look at the Current Proposals and Their Impact on Craft Businesses
- Battery Storage Sector Advocates for Extended Grid Fee Exemptions
The Central Association of German Crafts has advocated for a pre-war price level as a trigger for a price brake in the energy wholesale market, aiming to provide relief to craft businesses struggling with high energy prices. This proposal comes as the craft businesses in Halle, like many others, use gas not only for heating but also as an operational resource, making high energy prices financially burdensome for their existence.
