Households to get help with gas prices

Luxembourg households can expect to get at least €200 each from the government next year to help pay for soaring natural gas prices, the country's energy minister said on Tuesday.

The allowance of €200 for a single person living alone, rising to €400 for a family of five, is intended to help low-income households most affected by the price increases, Energy Minister Claude Turmes said in response to questions from parliament.

The statement was timed to a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday of European Union energy ministers puzzling over how to cushion consumers and companies from electricity and natural gas prices. Luxembourg and eight other countries argued that elevated energy costs are temporary and should not force urgent changes to the EU's energy laws and or climate reforms.

“Completely calling into question an internal gas and electricity market goes against greater energy independence and would be counterproductive," Turmes said in a statement his ministry released after the meeting.

The average household price for gas rose by about 73% compared this year, though the blow was softened by an 18% drop last year, Turmes told parliament.

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