Subsidy guideline for energy costs subsidy 1 – Q4 2022 and details on the lump-sum energy costs subsidy have been announced
Already at the beginning of the year, the National Council resolved to extend energy costs subsidy 1, which was originally planned to run until September 2022. Now the guideline has been published just in time for the start of the application period on 17 April 2023. More details have also been announced with regard to the lump-sum energy costs subsidy, which is intended to relieve small enterprises affected by the increased energy costs.
Guideline for extended energy costs subsidy 1
The extension of energy costs subsidy 1, which was resolved upon because of the continued high prices on the energy markets, is, as before, intended as a relief measure for companies affected by high energy prices. The time period eligible for the subsidy begins 1 October 2022 and ends 31 December 2022. From levels 2 to 4 companies may again apply for the subsidy for any number of months within this time period. The months do not have to be consecutive.
The application criteria are essentially the same as for energy costs subsidy 1 (see the newsletter from 25 November 2022). For example, they once again include four subsidy levels, a commitment to good tax conduct, limitations on bonus payments, and commitment to utilise energy saving measures for the period beginning with granting of the subsidy until 30 June 2023. The subsidy rate for the extra costs also remains unchanged between 30% and 70%. Applying for and receiving a subsidy also requires various confirmations (e.g. confirmation of sector, energy intensity, eligible costs, operating loss) and a report prepared thereon by a certified public accountant / tax advisor / accounting professional.
However, some changes have been made, for example regarding the eligible energy forms, which have now been broadened to include not only electricity and natural gas and fuels in level 1, but also heat and cold. Heat/cold refers to externally obtained heat, cold and steam which are generated directly from electricity or natural gas. The lower threshold for the subsidy has also been decreased from EUR 2,000 to EUR 750.
The period during which the individual application periods lie as stipulated by Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft (aws, Austrian Promotional Bank) runs from 17 April 2023 to 3 July 2023. The guideline is still subject to approval by the European Commission, which is expected shortly.
Lump-sum energy costs subsidy
There is also news on the lump-sum energy costs subsidy, which is available to small and micro-enterprises whose annual revenue must be between EUR 10,000 and EUR 400,000. This is a lump-sum subsidy amounting to between EUR 110 and EUR 2,475, depending on the sector and the annual revenue. The energy costs subsidy can be applied for retroactively for the year 2022. It is now also possible to carry out a self-check online. This is intended to give interested enterprises an uncomplicated way to check whether they could expect aid. This subsidy is handled by Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG, Austrian Research Promotion Agency). More information is available on the specially created site www.energiekostenpauschale.at.
Written by: Christiane Zöhrer / Cornelia Kalina
