The people of Uri decide on the scope of the solar obligation
Published: Sunday, Aug 18th 2024, 10:00
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In the canton of Uri, the population will vote on September 22 on the extent of the solar obligation on new buildings. Parliament and the government are in favour of an obligation for buildings with a chargeable area of 100 square meters or more, while the referendum committee is calling for 300 square meters.
The Uri government considers it appropriate to lower the limit to 100 square meters, as it said in November at the Landrat session. This would mean that 41 percent of buildings would not be affected by the solar obligation. With a limit of 300 square meters, on the other hand, 92 percent would be, as stated in the voting message. In view of the electricity shortage, this is "too little".
In its message, the canton states that the Energy Ordinance only requires plants where it is economically viable. Where it is uneconomical due to the location, no plants need to be built.
Opinions differed in the district council. The building commission proposed leaving the threshold at 300 square meters. The proposal was narrowly rejected by 27 votes to 28. The cantonal energy ordinance was ultimately adopted by 50 votes to 4 with 2 abstentions.
In February 2024, the Uri Homeowners' Association (HEV) launched a referendum. The planned obligation to install solar and photovoltaic systems was "economically disproportionate", the association wrote on its referendum collection forms.
The HEV argued, among other things, that homeowners would be forced to make expensive investments and consequently face the threat of higher rents. It also warned against the promotion of economically inefficient projects with state funds and growing bureaucracy.
Parliament is in favor of upper limits
In addition to the cantonal energy ordinance, the population will also vote on the partial revision of the tax law. This includes adjustments to the current federal legal requirements, as stated in the message.
For example, the canton wants to set the upper limit for the third childcare deduction at CHF 25,000 per child. With the maximum amount, it wants to prevent "luxury taxes", for example for parents who have their children cared for in private schools or boarding schools outside the canton for reasons of prestige or status.
Furthermore, the previously unlimited deduction for travel expenses will be set at a maximum of CHF 13,000. This is partly due to the growing trend towards working from home. For comparison: in the cantons of Lucerne and Nidwalden, the maximum deduction is CHF 6,000, in Obwalden and Schwyz CHF 8,000.
A further adjustment provides for tax-free bridging benefits for older unemployed people who have lost their job.
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