Gas supplies from Russia have already fallen significantly. In the meantime, politicians are not ruling out the possibility that gas could soon no longer flow through the important Nord Stream pipeline. That would have consequences.
In view of an imminent gas supply stop by Russia, the federal government and network agency have called on consumers to save energy.
Everyone in industry and privately can contribute, said Netzagentur boss Klaus Müller in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. “And yes, that includes the jumper, the shower head, turning the heating down a bit. All of that helps.” Consumer Minister Steffi Lemke said that companies and public institutions are just as challenged as households. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (both Greens) warned that Russia could turn off the gas tap completely in the summer.
Habeck had announced the second stage of the three-stage gas emergency plan on Thursday because Russia had throttled the delivery volume. The state-owned company Gazprom only pumps a maximum of 67 million cubic meters per day instead of 167 million and justifies this with Western sanctions that were imposed in response to the Russian attack on Ukraine. The federal government has rejected this. Specifically, Russia refers to a pump that is stuck abroad.
Nord Stream 1 completely sealed? – “Can’t rule it out”
With the lower delivery volumes, fears are growing that German gas storage facilities will not be sufficiently filled before winter. According to Müller, it is also possible that Russia will completely stop deliveries through the most important pipeline, Nord Stream. “We can’t rule it out.” His authority calculated different scenarios. “Most scenarios are not nice and mean either too little gas at the end of winter or – very difficult situation – in autumn or winter.”
Habeck accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of keeping prices high in Germany and Europe by reducing gas exports in order to stir up unrest. The federal government’s measures should also serve to unite society so that Putin does not win. “That’s what it’s about,” said the minister on ZDF’s “heute journal”. Putin’s spokesman rejected on Thursday that the cutback in deliveries was politically motivated.
Suppliers cannot yet pass on higher prices
Energy suppliers and politicians are now looking with concern at Nord Stream’s ten-day routine maintenance, which begins on July 11. When asked if he feared that Russia would no longer deliver gas after that, Habeck said on RTL: “I would have to lie if I said I’m not afraid of it.”
In that case, it is feared that gas prices will continue to rise. The utilities still have no “right to adjust prices”. If the network agency activates a certain mechanism, they could pass on the higher prices to end consumers within a week. Price guarantees that are concluded with one-year contracts, for example, would then no longer apply. Passing on prices is intended to prevent utilities from collapsing.
Müller warned that prices could double or triple, depending on the building. Therefore, the citizens should save money and talk to the landlords in the direction of autumn. “Now there’s still something you can do.”
Lemke: Private households and social institutions are protected
Consumer Minister Lemke told the German Press Agency that private households and social facilities such as hospitals are particularly protected in all stages of the gas emergency plan. “For the federal government, it is crucial that the energy supply in Germany remains secure.”
Rising energy costs are also causing concern among tenants. The President of the German Tenants’ Association, Lukas Siebenkotten, told the editorial network Germany: “We are calling for a termination moratorium that ensures that no one can be terminated who cannot pay their utility bills on time due to sharply increased heating costs.”
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
