A leading figure within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has voiced support for a more equitable distribution of financial assistance for heating system replacements. Matthias Miersch, parliamentary group leader for the SPD, stated in an interview with Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers that he “absolutely desires” a stronger social gradient in the allocation of these subsidies. He suggested that individuals with higher incomes should receive less generous support for transitioning away from traditional heating systems.
Miersch reinforced his commitment to the principle of government funding, emphasizing that the anticipated rise in carbon pricing in the coming years will significantly increase the cost of gas and oil heating systems. This, he warned, risks placing a substantial financial burden on a wide range of households. He reiterated the rationale behind the initial, more expansive subsidy scheme, stressing the need to prevent consumers from facing prohibitive costs and to ensure affordability during the transition to new heating infrastructure.
Despite calls for revisions, Miersch dismissed the possibility of a fundamental policy shift within the framework of a reform of the Building Energy Act (GEG). While acknowledging the need to streamline bureaucratic processes and potentially broaden the scope of ecological assessment to consider the overall environmental impact of a building, he firmly rejected suggestions of abandoning climate action within the building sector. He described such a proposition as “reckless.
The coalition agreement between the conservative and SPD parties previously stipulated the planned abolition of the existing “heating law” accompanied by a commitment to make the GEG “technology-open, flexible and simpler”. This ongoing debate signals a period of re-evaluation surrounding the implementation of climate-related building regulations and the equitable distribution of financial support for homeowners.