Why did we freeze all through the winter? Because the Greek finance ministry had raised the special consumption tax in heating oil, while the tax in natural gas was raised a year before. What did the ministry win from having us on cold show? It raised more revenues – more than the previous year where the consumption was higher and tax lower.
What did we win? Running noses, freezing feet and showers once a week. A collection of cozy pictures showing our seniors wrapped in blankets all day and night. Our merry-go-round kids running in the living room wearing parkas. Our housewives wearing woolen gloves except when standing at the kitchen sink. And husbands trying to make a happy face under the pressure of an icy blow in the wallet.
On the other hand, those blessed with a fireplace, enjoyed fuzzy-warm nights with friends grilling sausages and toasting bread. What if the next day, coach and comfort chairs would transmitting odors resembling to those of next corner grill diner? We had fun with grilled meat and red wine at a cost much lower than cooking on the stove – then electricity prices are not much better.
No matter how difficult the winter was, we, Greeks, are proud to have come through the winter without major losses. Grannies and grandpa’s survived it without heating and so did the kids. A wonderful training for next winter 🙂
Official: Consumption dropped, revenues rose
Consumption of heating oil dropped 68.7 percent in the period from October 2012 to February 2013 compared with a year earlier, according to data released on Thursday by the Finance Ministry. Nevertheless the state’s revenues from tax on the fuel still rose.
“The major increase in the special consumption tax on the commodity that was brought in line with that of diesel in order to combat the illegal trading of heating oil for diesel led many consumers to seek alternative means of heating their homes this winter, which also happened to be among the mildest in living memory in Greece.
Furthermore, the majority of Greeks had bought ample quantities of heating oil last April when plans for the tax hike from October 15, 2012 became known.
In the first five months with the tax on heating oil on a par with that of diesel, consumption amounted to just 739 million liters, against 2,358.6 million liters in the period from October 2011 to February 2012.
However, at the same time the increased consumption tax meant that revenues for the public purse grew from 141.5 million euros in winter 2011-12 to 244 million this year. (full details on heating oil consumption in ekathimerini)
While, the majority of us, did not use heating oil or natural gas due to the tax rise and our income decreases, the sunny-boys from Greek Finance Ministry justified the decreased consumption mainly with the ever-shining-sun in Greek regions: from south to the north, from east to west. Apparently 24 hours a day!
In the document accompanying the data sent to Parliament, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and his deputy Giorgos Mavraganis stated that “it is clear that in the current winter season there has been an increase in revenues from the special consumption tax on heating oil compared to the same period last year despite the reduction in consumption of the fuel, which was due to the reduced demand owing to weather conditions, to stocks and to its high retail price, but also due to the containment of smuggling.”
PS I do not need to mention that we are absolutely proud to have combated the illegal fuel trading by …freezing, right?
i hope the politicans choked on the pollution they imposed on the people
may they burn in hell!!
burn in hell preferably in winter?
If we had a winter similar to last one – we would have seen a cold-revolution. This was no winter, not really, was it?
here is the south, it was winter after the sun was gone…
OMG. Don’t tell me the Troika made you sell the Greek sun too! Who bought it, the Germans?