Stainach-Pürgg offers residents cheaper surplus electricity

The municipality of Stainach-Pürgg in Liezen district is offering residents cheaper electricity from its surplus power generation, ORF reports. It produces about one million kilowatt-hours a year, more than it uses.

The municipality generates electricity through a drinking-water power plant and three photovoltaic systems, the largest with a capacity of 103 kilowatt-peak. Its own buildings and facilities consume about 750,000 kilowatt-hours annually, including wastewater treatment plants, swimming pools, a ski lift, schools, kindergartens and street lighting.

The remaining 250,000 kilowatt-hours are distributed to residents through the Stainach-Pürgg energy community. Mayor Bernhard Schachner said residents save five cents on the network tariff, or about 28 percent. The municipality also sets the electricity price, which he said is cheaper than most tariffs.

The municipality is also working to replace oil and gas heating with district heating from Landgenossenschaft Ennstal.