Energy: Consumer advocates: Customer information ten years before the gas stop

Consumer advocates demand that gas customers must be informed at least ten years before their gas network is shut down. “If a gas heater needs to be replaced within the next ten years, consumers will now know that it is no longer worthwhile for them to buy a new gas heater,” said a spokesman for the Federal Association of Consumer Advice Centers.

The association refers to the federal government’s plans to become climate neutral by 2045. This also includes the extensive phase-out of fossil fuels such as natural gas. “More and more consumers will therefore switch to climate-friendly energies, such as heating networks and heat pumps, and say goodbye to the gas network,” said a spokesman for the consumer advice center in Baden-Württemberg.

In addition, the EU Gas and Hydrogen Internal Market Directive, which has been in force since August, requires gas network operators to submit decommissioning plans. However, this can also involve switching to green gases such as biomethane and hydrogen. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the directive must be implemented into German law by August 2026. However, according to the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry, around 48 percent of households in Germany will still be heating with gas in 2023.

In November, the Mannheim energy supplier MVV announced that it would aim to shut down its gas network by 2035. Mannheim is considered a pioneer among leading associations. Several media outlets had previously reported on the exit plans.