Diesel will receive a subsidy of 20 cents per liter, gasoline will see a reduction in its subsidy, and agricultural diesel will increase by 1,89 cents. NEWTON Energies analyzes what this change means for businesses, the self-employed, and farms.
September brings changes to fuel prices, and not all of them are going in the same direction. Starting next week, diesel A will have a subsidy of 20 cents per liter , while gasoline will see its subsidy reduced to 5 cents, and diesel B, used mainly in agriculture, will have a tax increase of 1,89 cents per liter . Behind these differences is the so-called safeguard clause , a tax mechanism that is activated under certain circumstances, which NEWTON Energies has analyzed to explain what individuals, businesses, and professionals can expect starting next month.
On this matter, it's important to clarify something from the outset: the fact that diesel has a 20-cent discount doesn't mean it will cost 20 cents less in September than it did in August . A 10-cent discount per liter was already being applied during August, so the effective price reduction in September will be another 10 cents. For a 50-liter fill-up, this difference equates to about five euros.
Why is the price changing now?
The explanation lies in the evolution of fuel prices over the last few months . The planned tax schedule included a general reduction of five cents per liter for September, but the regulations provide additional protection when a fuel becomes more expensive than 15% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Diesel has indeed exceeded that limit, with a year-on-year increase of 15,7% , thus triggering the safeguard clause and raising the subsidy to 20 cents per liter. Gasoline, whose price has risen by 7,3%, does not meet this condition and retains the aforementioned subsidy of 5 cents.
The result compared to August will therefore be different depending on the fuel: 10 cents less per liter in the case of diesel A, five cents more in gasoline due to the reduction of the aid and 1,89 cents more per liter in diesel B due to the update of its specific taxation.
A significant difference when consumption is measured in thousands of liters
For a private driver, a few cents per liter might translate into just a few euros per tank . For a transport company, a fleet of vehicles, or a farm, the amounts change considerably.
To better understand this, NEWTON Energies gives the example of a heavy vehicle that consumes 3.000 liters of diesel per month . The August bonus was €300, while in September it would reach €600. That is, an additional €300 in monthly savings per vehicle , always taking this tax change as the sole reference point.
In the agricultural sector, the opposite is true. A farm that uses 10.000 liters of diesel B during September will have to absorb approximately an additional €189 due to the increase of €1,89 per liter. This change is particularly significant for agricultural businesses in areas like Bajo/Baix Cinca, where the consumption of this fuel is a regular part of daily operations.
How to reduce fuel costs in a company
The tax changes are not within the control of businesses and the self-employed , but there is room to review how fuel is purchased and consumed. NEWTON Energies points to scheduled refueling and direct delivery to their own storage tanks as possibilities , especially when handling large volumes, in addition to monitoring vehicle and machinery consumption and properly managing any tax refunds to which certain professionals may be entitled.
It is also important to keep invoices properly and check that they include the necessary identification of the owner, vehicle or machinery and the fuel purchased when it is necessary to justify tax deductions or refunds.
NEWTON Energies , which operates service stations and provides energy supply and consulting services in the area, recommends that companies with high consumption review their refueling and procurement practices in light of the changes that will take effect in September . In a scenario where some fuel prices are falling while others are rising, understanding the actual consumption of each activity and how fuel is being purchased can have a greater impact on the bill than it might seem.
