German state leaders call on Berlin to lower energy tax for all

German state premiers on Sunday were putting pressure on the federal government to reverse a decision to lower the energy tax for industry, instead calling on Berlin to lower the levy for all, including households.

Alexander Schweitzer, state leader of Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany, called on the conservative-led coalition government to lower the energy tax quickly and reconsider whether private households couldn’t benefit as well.

“In any case, we need to think again about whether we can’t achieve this relief for citizens,” he told dpa in the state capital Mainz.

Schweitzer said the government should stick to its coalition agreement, which had promised a tax cut for all, depending on the budgetary situation.

However, he noted that citizens and small businesses were included in a reduction in grid fees and the abolition of a gas surcharge.

Top brass from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives and their coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), decided last month to retain electricity tax for most businesses and private consumers, in what many saw as a broken campaign promise.

Schweitzer warned that citizens currently have very little understanding for differences of opinion being aired publicly without any results being achieved afterwards.

Mario Vogt, state premier of Thuringia, struck a similar note, saying “I expect the electricity tax cut to come into effect for all soon.”

In comments to news outlet T-Online, he said he would like to see parliament “find a solution during its budget deliberations after summer recess.”

“The electricity tax cut must come into effect for everyone by next year’s budget for 2027 at the latest.”