New eco-tax – fuel is getting more expensive again

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Rising fuel costs despite falling oil prices: As of January 1, CO2 pricing will mean paying even more for gasoline and diesel.

In the fall of 2021, the federal government agreed on a “CO2 tax”. Due to record inflation and skyrocketing prices, the introduction was postponed by three months from October. The 500-Euro-Klimabonus paid out parallel to it should compensate the Sprit-Plus. Now with January 1, 2023, gasoline and Diesel become more expensive again!

But are the fuel prices with the introduction of the “CO2 tax” already around 9.9 cents (diesel) or 8.6 cents (gasoline) per liter climbed upward, the increase turns out comparatively mild to the turn of the year? “Due to a price stabilization mechanism, the CO2 price increase will be halved with 1.1.2023. The CO2 price will thus […] only increase by 2.5 euros per CO2 ton and thus amount to 32.5 euros,” the climate protection minister Gewessler told in an interview published by “Heute” newspaper.

Because as bizarre as it sounds, high inflation is to blame for fuel prices rising less than feared. To explain: For the pricing of climate-damaging CO2 emissions, there is precisely a “price stability mechanism” mentioned above: If the prices for fossil energy for private households rise significantly, the additional CO2 price increases only half as much as planned; likewise, if prices fall significantly, the growth is designed to double.

As a result of the price explosions in recent weeks, gasoline prices in 2023 would, therefore, not rise by around 1.5 cents per liter but “only” by about 0.75 cents per liter. Specifically, 0.8 cents per liter of diesel and 0.7 cents per liter of gasoline (all prices incl. VAT).

To compensate for the additional charges, there will also be a climate bonus in 2023. However, if this was set at 250 euros this year, in the coming years, it will consist of a base amount and a regional compensation, intended to provide more excellent relief for those who rely on the car. “Depending on how well or poorly the place of residence is connected by public transport and how good the infrastructure (hospitals, schools, etc.) is in general, people with their main residence in Austria will either receive no regional compensation at all or 33 percent, 66 percent or 100 percent of the respective basic amount per year in addition as regional compensation,” explains ÖAMTC.

Persons under the age of 18 each receive half. People with disabilities who have a mobility restriction receive the maximum amount of the regional climate bonus, regardless of their place of residence or age. The regional climate bonus is paid out via the Ministry of Climate Protection.