Background information

The rising prices of electricity, gas and fuels have hit low-income households particularly hard. Since autumn of last year, employer organisations have been concerned about how rising energy prices impact the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.

In March 2022, the Slovenian government responded to calls and adopted two laws for mitigation of the negative consequences due to rising energy prices for vulnerable households and the economy. Additionally, the two decrees lowered excise duties for electricity and energy sources and one fixed the price of certain petroleum products lowered excise duties for electricity and energy sources and one fixed the price of certain petroleum products.

Content of measure

The Government adopted the Act Determining the Urgent Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Rising Energy Prices_ (ZUOPVCE), published on 4 March 2022. It bestowed a one-time solidarity allowance of €150 or a so-called energy voucher to vulnerable social groups. Eligible are the following groups:

• Recipients of social benefit or care allowance;
• Recipients of child benefits (income classes I-VI);
• Retired people with a pension below €1,000 a month;
• Disabled;
• Large families;
• Foster parents.

Large families with four children or more were entitled to a subsidy of €200.

The one-time solidarity allowance was automatically paid on 15 April 2022 without prior request of beneficiaries. The government claimed that the measure targeted about 710,000 habitants and that the total value of the measure was €106 million.

Use of measure

The negative consequences of high energy prices were addressed by lower excise duties and fixed prices of some fuels. Lower excise duties for electricity and energy sources will be in force until 31 July 2022. A fixed price of certain petroleum products (gasoline and diesel) was valid from 15 March to 30 April 2022. After harsh protests from consumer and employer organisations, the government re-established the fixed prices of gasoline and diesel on 10 March 2022.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Disabled Other groups of citizens Pensioners People on social benefits

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The measure was adopted without prior consultation with social partners.

Views and reactions

The measure received supportive feedback from the general public.

Sources

• 29 January 2022: Amanded Decree fixing the excise duty level for energy sources (Uredba o spremembah Uredbe o določitvi zneska trošarine za energente (www.uradni-list.si)
• 29 January 2022: Decree fixing the excise duty level for electicity (Uredba o določitvi zneska trošarine za električno energijo (www.pisrs.si)
• 14 March 2022: Decree fixing the price of certain petroleum products (Uredba o določitvi cen določenih naftnih derivatov (www.uradni-list.si)
• 04 April 2022: Act Determining the Urgent Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Rising Energy Prices (Zakon o nujnih ukrepih za omilitev posledic zaradi vpliva visokih cen energentov, ZUOPVCE (www.uradni-list.si)