German energy ministry criticized for clean energy costs

24.1.2017

An office which audits the German government's budget has harshly criticized the Economics and Energy Ministry for gross inefficacy in its management of Germany's efforts to phase out nuclear power and coal; and switch to clean, renewable energy sources.

The Audit Office has accused the Ministry of having "no comprehensive overview" of the total costs of the energy sector restructuring. It says the Ministry failed to monitor the effectiveness of the various programs it sponsors and created 131 new jobs that may not be necessary.

According to the report, inadequate management is wasting some of the 24 billion euros used for the renewable energy sources development each year. The average German household contributes an estimated 240 euros a year to renewable energy subsidies.

The Government responded to criticism with a statement that the energy transformation is not a single government measure with clear limits but includes a wide variety of alternatives to both nuclear and fossil fuel energy. It is, therefore, impossible to express in a single number what the entire process will cost.

-tk-