Ribera estimates that the 'Iberian exception' represents a saving of 17 euros per month on the electricity bill

It has already saved more than 2,600 million to consumers since its entry into force

MADRID, 28 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Third Vice President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, has estimated that the 'Iberian exception' has already saved more than 2,600 million euros for Spanish electricity consumers, with a saving of 17 euros per invoice per month with respect to what would have been paid without the mechanism.

In the session of control to the Government in the Congress of Deputies, Ribera pointed out that the mechanism, which allows capping the price of gas for the generation of electricity, has placed the average price of the 'pool' since its application at 146 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), while the average price of electricity for regulated rate customers linked to the wholesale market, including the additional adjustment for the 'Iberian exception', has been 267 euros/MWh, "which is 35% below what the French pay, 40% less than the Italians and 25% less than the Germans," he said.

The minister assured that this Government does not fall into "triumphalism", but she did assure that it will take, as it has been doing, the necessary measures "to alleviate the effects of the crisis on the Spanish".

In this regard, he defended that Spain was "the first government" that began to take measures against the impact of the energy crisis, which has led to reducing the tax burden on electricity and natural gas by more than 86%.

Ribera thus responded to the question of the PP deputy Diego Gago Bugarín, who assured that "the Spanish do not understand the triumphalism" of the Government. "How do they try to deceive over and over again by saying that we are better off thanks to the Iberian exception and they are paying two or three times more?" he questioned.

For his part, Ribera invited the PP to explain how "it is that Mr. Macron wants to extend throughout the European Union" the mechanism to cap the price of gas in Spain and Portugal and accused the political formation of being "champions of disinformation ", either "due to insolvency or bad faith," he asserted.

On the other hand, Jaime Eduardo de Olano, also a PP deputy, accused the government of "not having a plan to deal with the crisis" and of "not letting itself be helped."

In addition, De Olano asked Ribera to prolong the VAT reductions on electricity and natural gas beyond the end of the year, since the Spanish "cannot wait any longer".

In this sense, Ribera, who accused the PP of governing in the community with the "greatest inequality" in Spain, that of Madrid, affirmed that the Government is responding to "an unusual situation" like the current one without the support of the main party in the opposition.

"We have been adopting measures that allow us to alleviate this situation and impact with measures adopted over the months. How many of these measures have had your support? None," he said.

In addition, the minister, who assured that the best way to respond to this situation is the tax system and "taxes on wealth and extraordinary profits of companies", accused the PP of "shooting in all directions and always trying to protect those who have more".

"Juan Bravo came to see me, constructive, betting on the present and future, asking to speed up the Recovery Plan, but less than 24 hours later its president (Alberto Núñez Feijóo) was associated with Aznar in denialism and the president of the Community of Madrid asked for more time to execute the Recovery Plan since it did not seem relevant enough", he added in this regard.