Funding guidelines for the electricity price compensation published: Application period ranging from 8 August till 30 September

In addition to the energy cost subsidy, the electricity price compensation intends to support companies that are particularly burdened because of the inclusion of the costs of greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the indirect CO2 costs of companies operating in certain sectors or industries with their registered office or place of business in Austria are subsidized by providing a direct grant. The application period spans from 8 August till 30 September 2023 and as a good message does not follow a first-come-first-serve principle, but rather treats all applicants identically irrespective of the time of filing the application. The subsidy amounts to 75% of the actual indirect CO2 costs that exceed 1 GWh. In order to receive funding some additional requirements have to be fulfilled. These include the mandatory execution of an energy audit for energy efficiency before 30 September 2023. Subsequently, the recommendations listed in the audit report are to be implemented within a reasonable period of time, but at the latest the implementation has to be kicked-off by the time the subsidy is paid out (no later than 22 December 2023). Like the energy cost subsidy, the electricity price compensation will be handled by Austria Wirtschaftsservice. In addition to the application, the confirmation of an auditor or tax advisor of specific parameters included in the application as well as the energy audit report including a list and description of the measures to be implemented for energy efficiency must be submitted at the time of application, but no later than 30 September 2023. The actual payment of the electricity price compensation to the eligible applicants shall take place until 22 December 2023 at the latest, as EU state aid law requires payment before the end of the year.