Ribera believes that the energy tax cannot be permanent with its current design and advocates for its reform

He points out that some aid to lower the electricity bill "has lost meaning" and others must be maintained

MADRID, 8 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, has explained that the tax on the profits of energy companies was designed at an "extraordinary" moment and may currently "not meet the requirements" to be permanent, which is why he advocates for its reform.

"This is no longer a one-off solution, but rather something that is designed to last longer over time," Ribera said in statements to Cadena SER reported by Europa Press. Ribera's words align with those of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who confirmed that he is working on the "redesign" of the tribute.

Of course, the minister has asserted that at no time has she heard anyone say that the tax is going to be eliminated. "I haven't talked about removing anything, I've talked about doing things right," Ribera clarified.

The current tax is levied at 1.2% on the turnover obtained in those companies with income exceeding 1,000 million euros, excluding regulated businesses and activities outside of Spain and extra-peninsular areas. The agreement between PSOE and Sumar to form a Government included the extension of the extraordinary tax for energy companies and banks, valid for this year and the next.

The vice president has defended that it is necessary to study how to adapt a tax that was designed taking as a reference the extraordinary profits of these companies at a time when they increased considerably due to the rise in energy prices.

In addition, Ribera points out, we must also put into the equation the transformation of the energy system and the energy transition, which will require a "massive" investment in the coming years in networks, electrification, efficiency or renewable energies.

"I believe that our commitment is to be equitable in that whoever has more can contribute more and ensure the key economic, ecological and social policy objective, which is that a part of the private sector's resources be dedicated to facilitating that transition," has apostilled

Another issue on which the vice president has spoken is whether the Government is going to extend the energy aid that has been approved in the last year in the anti-crisis decrees to lower the energy bill, as is the case of the VAT on electricity.

In this regard, the Minister for the Ecological Transition has said that her department and the rest of the Executive are working to see which consumer protection measures should be extended and which should not.

Among these aids are the reduction of VAT on electricity bills from 10% to 5% applied to consumers, companies or individuals, with a contracted power of up to 10 kilowatts and the application of the tax rate of 0.5% of the Tax. Special on Electricity.

"Some have lost meaning and others must be maintained and we must see under what conditions. In the coming days and weeks we will see what this Government's decision is," Ribera concluded.