Aid and discounts to cope with price hikes from the Ukraine war

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1. Industries that use a lot of electricity (electricity-intensive industries) will get an 80% discount on electricity transport and distribution tolls from January 1 to December 31, 2022. They must hold the electricity-intensive consumer certificate.
2. Direct aid is approved for gas-intensive industry, totaling 125 million euros. Each company can receive at most 400,000 euros, depending on its activity and number of employees. Applications must be filed by April 30, 2022.
3. A 0.20 euro per liter or kilogram discount is created on the price of gasoline, diesel and other fuels between April 1 and June 30, 2022. Gas stations apply the discount and then request reimbursement from the Tax Agency.
4. Wholesale oil product operators with refining capacity in Spain and turnover above 750 million euros must pay a special levy during the second quarter of 2022. They are exempt if they grant an equivalent discount to final consumers.
5. Direct aid of 450 million euros is approved for road transport companies and self-employed workers in taxi and medical transport, hit by rising fuel prices. Applications must be filed by April 30, 2022.
6. A guarantee line of up to 10 billion euros is approved to help companies and the self-employed obtain financing and ease liquidity strains caused by rising energy prices.
7. The minimum vital income is increased by 15% for April, May and June 2022. In addition, the annual rent increase for housing leases is capped, absent agreement, at the variation of the Competitiveness Guarantee Index until June 30, 2022.
8. Companies receiving aid may not lay off workers because of higher energy costs until June 30, 2022. The rule also makes it easier to accredit victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and exempts Ukrainian applicants for Spanish nationality from providing certificates from their country.

Who it affects

• Industries that use a lot of electricity or gas: They receive discounts on electricity tolls and direct aid for gas costs.
• Drivers and transport companies: They pay less for fuel thanks to the discount and may receive direct aid.
• People renting their main home: The annual rent update is capped until June 30, 2022.
• Recipients of the minimum vital income: They get 15% more in April, May and June 2022.
• Companies and self-employed workers with liquidity problems: They can access the new 10 billion euro guarantee line.

Words worth knowing

Peajes de acceso (access tolls)

Regulated costs paid on the electricity bill for using the electricity transport and distribution networks.

Consumidor electrointensivo (electricity-intensive consumer)

A company that uses a lot of electricity in its industrial processes and holds an official certificate saying so.

Prestación patrimonial de carácter público no tributario (non-tax public levy)

A mandatory payment required from certain companies to fund a public purpose, which is not a tax.

Índice de Garantía de Competitividad (Competitiveness Guarantee Index)

A price index used as an alternative reference to update housing rent.

Aval (state guarantee)

A State guarantee backing a loan, so that if the borrower does not pay, the State is liable.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries