Special meeting on the loss of millions: Stadtwerke Mühldorf in focus!

Special meeting on the loss of millions: Stadtwerke Mühldorf in focus!

The situation in Mühldorf is exciting because the CSU, Greens and SPD have jointly requested a non-public special meeting of the city council. The reason for this urgency? A whopping loss of seven million euros that Stadtwerke Mühldorf made in 2022. CSU parliamentary group spokesman Stefan Lasner is critical of this: “There are too many unanswered questions,” and makes it clear that this loss cannot simply be dismissed as an election campaign skirmish. The concern in City Hall is palpable, and citizens have a right to transparent information, especially when it comes to the handling of public money.

Also Dr. Matthias Kraft from the Greens speaks out. He criticizes the contradictions in the statements of Mayor Hetzl and managing director Lehmann and questions the information in the 2023 management report, which deals with loans and financial compensation for the indoor swimming pool. The issue of indoor swimming pools seems to be important not only in Mühldorf, but also in Munich, where Stadtwerke München GmbH (SWM) acts as a pioneer in the area of ​​infrastructure. According to Wikipedia, SWM is a municipal company that supplies over 95% of households in Munich with electricity, making it the largest municipal utility company in Europe.

Open questions and the need for transparency

SPD parliamentary group spokeswoman Claudia Hungerhuber emphasizes that maximum transparency about decisions that affect the city is essential. Even if Mayor Hetzl does not want to let the situation boil over, it is clear that there are still many unanswered questions that may need to be clarified in court. City spokesman Werner Kurzlechner also points out the municipal utilities' confidentiality obligations, which makes the situation even more complex.

The city is now examining the request for the special meeting, and if everything is formally correct, it could be scheduled within two weeks. But the vacation time of the city councilors and the administration makes finding an appointment anything but easy. In this tense situation, it is important that those responsible show a certain degree of tact, even if Hetzl emphasizes that they simply want to wait for the results of the clarification.

The context of the municipal utilities

To better understand the severity of the situation, it is worth taking a look at the Munich municipal utility company. The company has been committed to expanding renewable energies since 2008 and now operates numerous systems for sustainable electricity generation. The commitment goes so far that 100% of the district heating in Munich should come from renewable energies by 2040. In this context, it becomes clear how important it is for municipal utilities to maintain a trusting relationship with citizens in Mühldorf.

The development of Stadtwerke Mühldorf will be crucial in the coming weeks, especially with regard to how the citizenry is informed and involved in decisions. Given the financial difficulties, there is a lot on the table that needs to be addressed. Clear answers and a transparent handling of the situation are now required in order not to endanger citizens' trust in the municipal utilities.