Measures to mitigate price increases
The Government first provided for the needs of individual households and small enterprises. These were followed by target measures for medium-sized and large enterprises. The common thread of all the measures adopted is the formation of a predictable and safe environment for consumers, the business sector and the state. We take gradual action since we also maintain budget sustainability.
Measures to mitigate high energy prices
To manage high energy prices, the Government adopted measures to mitigate prices and measures for a reliable supply. Within the framework of the latter, a greater application of solar architecture throughout Slovenia is planned.
Measures to mitigate the high prices of energy products
The Government determined the maximum resale price of electric energy for households and small business customers, and defined the maximum resale price of natural gas for protected customers. The Government determined price cap for 90 percent of electricity price for households. Ten percent of consumption will be paid by households at the market price freely set by suppliers. The measure applies from 1 January to 31 December 2024.
By limiting the margin of all traders with petroleum derivatives, the Government limited the prices of oil and petroleum derivatives on the motorways and of the fuel oil.
As of 1 November 2022, the maximum permitted resale prices of natural gas apply to households, common household customers, basic social services, kindergartens, primary schools, community healthcare centres, small business customers and households in the district heating system.
For 2024 the Government adopted the Decree on setting gas prices from the system setting a maximum retail price for natural gas for household customers and households. The Decree applies from 1 January 2024 until the end of the heating season, i.e. 30 April 2024.
The Government set the maximum tariff item for the variable part of the heat price for the supply of heat from distribution systems where the heat distribution activity is performed as a public utility service, specifically for household customers at 98.70 EUR/MWh. It applied for the period from 1 January to 30 April 2023.
The maximum price for natural gas used to produce heat in heat distribution systems (district heating systems) and supplied to kindergartens, primary schools, essential social services institutions and health centres is set at 0.079 EUR/kWh.
The Government maintained a lower excise duty for electric energy and natural gas. For the period between 1 September 2022 and 31 May 2023, the Government lowered the VAT rate to 9.5 per cent for electric energy, natural gas, district heating and firewood. As of 1 September, a lower contribution for assuring support to production of electric energy from renewable sources and from cogeneration with high efficiency (RES + CHP contribution) applies.
The Government regulated the method of payment, the detailed conditions for proof and payment to beneficiaries and the detailed content of the online application for claiming the subsidy for persons who have a wood pellet heating installation and who have purchased wood pellets for their household heating between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2022.
Aid for the business sector in 2022
The Government helped small, medium-sized and large enterprises between 1 June and 31 December 2022 by co-financing the costs of electric energy and natural gas above a double increase of their prices. The amount of support depended on a company’s changed situation as per the prices in 2021 and 2022. Small and medium-sized enterprises were eligible for support in the amount of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs and large enterprises up to 30 per cent of eligible costs. When proving operating loss, energy-intensive enterprises were able to apply for the reimbursement of up to 70 per cent of eligible costs; the highest amount of aid is EUR 2 million. The Government also earmarked EUR 6 million for favourable liquidity facilities for small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the crisis. The total estimated value of measures to help the business sector amounts to EUR 86 million. Slovene Enterprise Fund published a package of favourable crisis liquidity facilities in the amount of EUR 32 million. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises experiencing liquidity problems due to the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic or crisis situation relating to the energy supply will be able to obtain up to EUR 100,000 worth of favourable loans.
The Government determined the mechanism for setting the electricity price for large business customers, which are not among the beneficiaries of the maximum permitted retail price. The mechanism applies to contracts for the purchase of electricity, which will be concluded for 2023, i.e. until 31 December 2022.
The Government adopted the act proposal which, among other things, defines urgent measures to reduce energy import dependency (e.g. reduction of electricity consumption during peak hours), control of prices of energy and energy products, limit excess market revenue of electricity producers, and simplification of aid for new investments in renewable energy sources.
Aid for the business sector in 2023
For 2023, the Government has foreseen EUR one billion of aid for the economy due to high energy prices. It will subsidise the payment of high energy prices for the companies in the period between 1 January and 31 December 2023, although the scheme must first be approved by the European Commission.
The beneficiaries will be able to choose from five types of aid.
- With simple aid, the beneficiaries will receive a refund of 50 per cent of the eligible costs or up to EUR 2 million in total aid. Aid in agriculture will be lower, i.e. up to EUR 250,000 and up to EUR 300,000 in the fisheries sector.
- The amount of basic special aid will reach up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs and up to no more than EUR 4 million in total aid.
- Special aid for reduced economic performance may amount to 40 per cent of the eligible costs and up to no more than EUR 100 million.
- Special aid for energy-intensive companies may amount to 65 per cent of the eligible costs and up to no more than EUR 50 million.
- Special aid in special sectors will be able to reach 80 per cent of the eligible costs and up to no more than EUR 150 million.
In spite of meeting the entry threshold of 1.5 times for the aid, a beneficiary will not be eligible for the special type of aid if their price per unit of electricity in 2023 is lower than EUR 150 or EUR 79 for natural gas.
To receive the aid, beneficiaries will have to complete a digital application in the application of the SPIRIT Slovenia Public Agency, which represents a significant simplification of the procedure if compared to 2022.
Maximum energy prices determined
For 2023, the Government determined maximum retail prices of natural gas and electricity for public institutions, public commercial institutions, public agencies, public funds, municipalities, providers of state-approved educational programmes and providers of social care services, social care programmes and family support programmes.
The Government determined maximum retail prices of electricity for micro, small and medium-sized companies that are end consumers. This is applicable as of 1 January to 31 December 2023.
Co-financing of measures to preserve jobs
The Government also proposed two measures to preserve jobs, which will enable eligible employers to shorten working time or organise temporary layoffs.
Measures to improve corporate liquidity
The act proposal also anticipates favourable loans to improve corporate liquidity. The Slovene Enterprise Fund and the Slovenian Regional Development Fund will earmark EUR 30 million for favourable loans in 2023 and EUR 20 million in 2024.
Favourable loans will also be provided by SID banka, i.e. in the amount of EUR 150 million, which will be intended for investing and current accounts. SID banka will earmark approximately EUR 50 million to finance the activity of road transport operators during the energy crisis.
The Government also enabled more favourable taxation of the reimbursement of travel expenses to and from work.
Measures for security of supply
The Government adopted the legal basis for the adoption of temporary measures in the event of an increased risk in energy supply (a lower or higher risk level may be declared in case of disruptions in energy and gas supply) and measures for the security of energy supply. The Act governs the storage of gas, release of mandatory reserves of oil and petroleum products and exceptions when attaining efficiency indicators of the district heating system.
Measures adopted to reduce import dependency:
- promotion of self-sufficiency,
- the Government may limit the lighting and heating in public buildings and buildings where the public congregates,
- customers of natural gas have the right to not be connected to the natural gas distribution system if they use renewable energy sources for heating,
- customers who choose voluntarily to reduce their gas and electric energy consumption by 15 per cent will be rewarded.
The Government ensured mandatory and alternative gas supply for protected customers (households, kindergartens and schools, hospitals, secondary school and university dormitories, retirement homes, prisons, etc.), who could suddenly be left without a supplier or offer of a new supplier.
To provide for a stable gas supply, the Government adopted the guarantee act for obligations of the companies GEN energija, HSE and Geoplin to ensure their liquidity.
Careful management of energy products
The EU Council adopted the regulation on coordinated demand reduction measures for gas in the period from 1 August 2022 to 31 March 2023 by 15 per cent based on average consumption over the last five years due to the risk of further interruptions in the gas supply from Russia. The Energy Agency calls on the customers to use energy more rationally and seek solutions for replacing gas with other energy products.
To this end, we are drafting an action plan with various scenarios on how to abandon the use of natural gas of Russian origin by 2025.
For the state authorities to set an example, the Government bound the central state administration to rational use of energy: the premises are not cooled to less than 25 °C and not heated to more than 20 °C during the heating season.
Promotion of green transition
The Government’s objective is for all Slovenian households to be fully independent from fossil fuels in their energy supply by 2030 and have their own, long-term energy source. The Government plans a process of greater utilisation of solar power or to accelerate the construction of solar power plants in Slovenia. We are also preparing measures that will enable one third of Slovenian households to have access to community solar power plants.
Measures to mitigate high food prices and ensure food security
As a Member of the European Union, Slovenia is involved in the adoption of measures to mitigate price increases and ensure food security at the European level. In addition to implementing European measures, Slovenia is also adopting additional national measures that are compliant with the treaties and rules at the European level. These rules permit the EU Member States to, at the national level:
- reduce VAT rates,
- encourage retailers to maintain low prices,
- use EU funds intended to aid the most deprived.
Mitigation of high food prices
The increase in food prices is linked directly with the increased costs of producers due to the price rise of fuels, electric energy, raw materials and intermediate goods. The Government’s measures are thus intended not only for consumers, but also farmers, agricultural holdings and commercial fishermen.
In 2022, the Government will earmark EUR 22.3 million for agriculture and fisheries (subsidies for fuel and fertilisers, purchase of intermediate goods, assistance for the dairy sector), of which more than EUR 1.7 million will be from the European funds. Some EUR 7.5 million (EUR 5.2 million from the European funds) of aid will be paid in 2023. The Government adopted aid measures in the amount of EUR 1.96 million to help the beekeeping sector and EUR 4.5 million to help livestock farms.
Within the framework of support for the business sector, the companies involved in aquaculture will be able to obtain state aid as per the Temporary Framework of up to no more than EUR 72,000 per an individual company.
In addition to the measures for agriculture and fisheries, the Government also adjusted the taxation of reimbursements of employee expenses for food to mitigate high food prices. The Government ensured that the price of lunches and accommodation of students in secondary school and university dormitories in the 2022/2023 academic year is not increased as per the previous academic year and the difference will be covered from the budget.
To encourage retailers to maintain low prices, the Government defined a basket of basic food groups. With the publication of their prices, the Government wishes to inform consumers and enable them to monitor and compare retail prices at various providers.
Measures for vulnerable groups and families
With the increase of prices of energy products and food, the social distress of citizens also grows. With additional measures, we wish to prevent the price increases from deepening the distress of the most vulnerable groups.
Energy allowance
This measure ensures better social security of the socially most vulnerable groups of citizens. The energy allowance was paid out to the recipients of financial social assistance and income support, i.e. in the amount of EUR 200, whereby the amount of the allowance increases in accordance with the number of children in a household.
Energy allowance was a one-off payment. To be eligible for energy allowance, an individual or a family had to be in receipt of a valid decision on financial social assistance or income support in the period between 1 August 2022 and 31 March 2023. Approximately 71,000 individuals and families received the allowance.
In order to expand the circle of beneficiaries for the allowance, the assets of new applicants for financial social assistance or income support were not observed when establishing their eligibility. Households thus received the allowance if they became eligible for financial social assistance any time between October 2022 and March 2023.
The energy allowance in the amount of EUR 200 was also paid out to the weakest categories of disabled people in terms of income. Some 13,500 persons received the allowance.
These measures were assessed to be worth EUR 35 million.
Dearness allowance for recipients of child benefit
This measure helped families that are entitled to child benefits. In addition to child benefit for each child, these families also received a dearness allowance in November and December 2022 and January 2023.
The dearness allowance in the amount of the child benefit for the first child was paid out to eligible families in accordance with their income class. A family received the allowance for all the children in the family. If a family is in the first income class and has three children, it received a dearness income in the amount of EUR 368.37 (i.e. three times EUR 122.79).
To be eligible for the dearness allowance, a family had to be in receipt of a valid decision on child benefit for October/November/December 2022. The filing of applications was not necessary as the payments were executed automatically.
More than 353,000 children received additional funds by means of this measure and the Government earmark EUR 63 million for this purpose.
Definition of energy poverty
The Government issued the Decree on the criteria to define and assess the number of households in energy poverty to contribute to a high-quality planning and implementing of energy and social policy in the field of energy poverty. The Decree provides more detailed criteria for defining and assessing the number of energy-poor households. These include material vulnerability, a large share of energy expenditure in relation to available income or exceeding the average proportion of energy expenditure, low energy efficiency of household premises and unsuitable living conditions.