real6
22-09-2009, 03:17 PM
http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article793640.ece
If you feel that you’re paying vast amounts for electricity and heating in Denmark – you’re probably right. Danish energy is Europe’s most expensive.
A Danish family with an annual electricity consumption of 3,500 kWh pays DKK 2,600 more to keep the house going than the average EU family.
On average, Danish electricity bills are a third higher, and gas bills twice as high, making Denmark the most expensive EU country in energy consumption, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, quoted by 24timer.
“This can be explained in simple terms – taxes and duties. In reality, electricity and gas is not that expensive in Denmark if you take away taxes and duties,” says Roskilde University Energy Economist Ole Jess Olsen.
Tax reform
Some two-thirds of the price of electricity and gas is taxation, and the new tax reform is suggesting that green duties should add a further 15 percent to the bill.
“For many years we have used energy as a way of contributing to national housekeeping as well as financing the development of sustainable energy. The tax reform reduces income tax and increases energy tax,” says Liberal Energy Policy Spokesman Lars Christian Lilleholt. He does accept, however, that a pain threshold has been reached.
Taxpayer Ass.
The Taxpayers’ Association says that politicians have continuously increased energy taxation simply because Danes pay their electricity bills without thinking.
“It shows that our society is heavily over-taxed and that the politicians have discovered that they can harvest funds on energy without us realising it,” says Association Chairman Steen Leth Jeppensen.
Green energy?
At Dansk Energi, which represents the energy industry, Departmental Head Lars Hansen says the association has ‘accepted’ that green duties on electricity and gas are a way of financing the rest of society. Unfortunately, however, the duties cannot determine whether electricity comes from a wind turbine or a coal-fired power station.
“The high duties suppress the ability to increase development in the sustainable energy sector,” Hansen says.
At the same time, Dansk Energi finds its strange that the price of CO2 emissions is not shared more equally between the energy and transport sectors.
“Oil and petrol have pretty much escaped. Both heating pumps and electrical cars are driven by electricity, so it’s unfortunate that electricity is taxed so much more than other services,” Hansen adds.
Consumer Council : Save electricity
The Consumer Council , however, has no view on the issue of taxes and duties on electricity prices.
“Whether or not environmentally detrimental consumption is taxed particularly harshly is a purely political decision. Luckily consumers are able to reduce their electricity bills by following advice such as choosing the most energy-saving electrical devices or making sure that their homes are well-insulated,” says Consumer Council Economist Martin Salomon.
If you feel that you’re paying vast amounts for electricity and heating in Denmark – you’re probably right. Danish energy is Europe’s most expensive.
A Danish family with an annual electricity consumption of 3,500 kWh pays DKK 2,600 more to keep the house going than the average EU family.
On average, Danish electricity bills are a third higher, and gas bills twice as high, making Denmark the most expensive EU country in energy consumption, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, quoted by 24timer.
“This can be explained in simple terms – taxes and duties. In reality, electricity and gas is not that expensive in Denmark if you take away taxes and duties,” says Roskilde University Energy Economist Ole Jess Olsen.
Tax reform
Some two-thirds of the price of electricity and gas is taxation, and the new tax reform is suggesting that green duties should add a further 15 percent to the bill.
“For many years we have used energy as a way of contributing to national housekeeping as well as financing the development of sustainable energy. The tax reform reduces income tax and increases energy tax,” says Liberal Energy Policy Spokesman Lars Christian Lilleholt. He does accept, however, that a pain threshold has been reached.
Taxpayer Ass.
The Taxpayers’ Association says that politicians have continuously increased energy taxation simply because Danes pay their electricity bills without thinking.
“It shows that our society is heavily over-taxed and that the politicians have discovered that they can harvest funds on energy without us realising it,” says Association Chairman Steen Leth Jeppensen.
Green energy?
At Dansk Energi, which represents the energy industry, Departmental Head Lars Hansen says the association has ‘accepted’ that green duties on electricity and gas are a way of financing the rest of society. Unfortunately, however, the duties cannot determine whether electricity comes from a wind turbine or a coal-fired power station.
“The high duties suppress the ability to increase development in the sustainable energy sector,” Hansen says.
At the same time, Dansk Energi finds its strange that the price of CO2 emissions is not shared more equally between the energy and transport sectors.
“Oil and petrol have pretty much escaped. Both heating pumps and electrical cars are driven by electricity, so it’s unfortunate that electricity is taxed so much more than other services,” Hansen adds.
Consumer Council : Save electricity
The Consumer Council , however, has no view on the issue of taxes and duties on electricity prices.
“Whether or not environmentally detrimental consumption is taxed particularly harshly is a purely political decision. Luckily consumers are able to reduce their electricity bills by following advice such as choosing the most energy-saving electrical devices or making sure that their homes are well-insulated,” says Consumer Council Economist Martin Salomon.