EU plans to cut electricity taxes to shield households from Iran war energy crisis

Brussels will relax state aid rules to allow member countries to offer ‘targeted and temporary’ support

The commission said it would adopt temporary state aid rules to allow member countries to directly shield consumers and businesses from high energy prices. File picture

The EU will cut electricity taxes and provide consumers with fresh incentives to ditch fuel-burning cars and boilers, the European Commission has announced, as the energy crisis from the Iran war speeds a shift to a clean economy.

The plan, which foresees tweaking rules so that electricity is taxed less than oil and gas, aims to bring down bills while encouraging the move away from polluting devices that prolong reliance on foreign fuels.