In their coalition agreement of 2025, CDU, CSU and SPD promised to lower the electricity tax für alle so schnell wie möglich auf das europäische Mindestmaß, for everyone as quickly as possible to the European minimum. In the summer of 2025, the cabinet decided to lower it only for industry and agriculture. In early July, the coalition committee confirmed the decision. Households and small businesses got no cut. The German Retail Federation and the wholesale federation BGA called the decision a Wortbruch, a breaking of one’s word. Chancellor Friedrich Merz answered: Wir können nur das Geld ausgeben, das wir haben. We can only spend the money we have. He pointed to a condition in the agreement. All plans in the coalition agreement are subject to funding.