The energy check of 80 euros that vulnerable families receive to reduce their energy bills will be paid before Christmas. This is assured by the Minister of Economy and PS Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne.
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It would be almost 1 million families. The federal government has pledged 72 million euros for the measure. This additional expenditure is compensated by the higher excise duties that the government receives, precisely because of the increase in gas and electricity prices.
Difficulty paying energy bills
The decision dates back to budget conclave of mid-October and is accompanied by the extension of the extended social rate until the first quarter of 2022 for the most vulnerable families. In addition, 16 million euros will go to the Gas and Electricity Fund to support people who do not fall under the social rate, but who do have difficulty paying their energy bills.
In addition to the gas and electricity bill, the prices at the pump have also increased significantly in recent weeks. To remedy this, Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem puts the reintroduction of the reverse cliquet on the table, whereby excise duties automatically decrease from a certain price level.
However, according to several sources, that proposal has not yet been discussed at this afternoon’s Council of Ministers. According to the spokeswoman for the CD&V deputy prime minister, the text is still being prepared and will then go through the appropriate channels.
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