In an effort to meet EU rules, Germany has drafted legislation that would raise the surcharge paid by German industrial companies that produce their own electricity. The legislation seeks to address objections the European Commission made to an initial draft of Germany’s renewable energy bill. The Commission had requested that Germany treat households and industry equally, rather than granting heavy industry discounts or exemptions from the surcharge. Under the newly drafted legislation, companies that produce their own electricity in new renewable or combined heat-power plants will pay 30% of the surcharge starting in 2015, rising to 35% in 2016 and 40% in 2017—a significant increase from the previously planned 15%. Despite the proposed changes, the Commission still expressed concerns over who would benefit from the surcharge, questioning whether those exporting electricity to Germany were receiving equal treatment to the country’s own producers. For the full story, see http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/24/us-germany-energy-eu-idUKKBN0EZ1K520140624, http://online.wsj.com/articles/germany-proposes-higher-green-energy-surcharge-on-industrial-companies-1403631684, and http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL6N0P72N720140626.