Status: 09/29/2022 5:22 p.m
Households and small businesses used significantly more gas in the past week than is usual at this time. The Federal Network Agency is therefore warning of a gas shortage and calls for more savings.
Gas consumption by households and businesses has risen sharply. Last week it was well above the average consumption in previous years, as announced by the Federal Network Agency. Authorities head Klaus Müller warned: “Without significant savings in the private sector, too, it will be difficult to avoid a gas shortage in winter.”
Consumption increases with falling temperatures
Up until mid-September, gas consumption was in some cases significantly lower than in previous years. Because private consumers mainly use gas for heating, they have hardly contributed to the savings so far.
The fact that consumption now rose sharply with falling temperatures prompted the Federal Network Agency to call for savings. “Savings must also be made when temperatures continue to fall,” explained agency boss Müller. “It will depend on each individual.”
According to the Federal Network Agency, private households and smaller commercial customers in Germany are responsible for around 40 percent of gas consumption. The large industrial customers were previously responsible for around 60 percent of German gas consumption. According to the Federal Network Agency, consumption here fell by a nominal 22 percent in August and was also well below the average consumption of previous years in calendar week 38 – mid-September.
“If there is a gas shortage, everyone has lost”
Economics Veronika Grimm also warned of a gas shortage in Germany. “If there is a gas shortage, then everyone has lost, whether with or without a gas price brake,” she told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (FAZ).
Grimm is to head a commission of experts that is to draw up a proposal for the gas price brake announced by the federal government. According to Grimm, the commission should also focus on incentives to save gas. This must “have top priority”, according to Grimm in the FAZ.
It will be important to find an instrument that meets a number of requirements, said the economist with a view to the gas price brake. “It has to be little bureaucratic and quick to implement”. In addition, the solution must be fair and provide strong incentives to save gas.
Alert level two out of three is currently in effect
The Federal Network Agency is currently assuming that a reduction in consumption of at least 20 percent is necessary to avoid a gas shortage. When it comes to gas supply, the alarm level in Germany is currently the second of three warning levels in the gas emergency plan. If the gas supply situation in Germany or in the EU member states continues to deteriorate, the federal government can declare the emergency level as the highest level.
The Federal Network Agency then becomes the so-called federal load distributor and determines who will still receive gas in the event of a gas shortage. Household customers, kindergartens, schools, universities, hospitals, retirement homes and medical practices, the police and fire brigade, the armed forces, electricity and water suppliers, waste disposal, but also many small and medium-sized companies in the areas of trade, commerce and services are particularly protected.
“Gas Safety Platform” unlocked
The Federal Network Agency also announced the activation of an online platform that should help to make the smartest possible decisions about gas shutdowns in the event of a gas emergency.
On the “Gas Safety Platform” Important players in the gas market such as large consumers, gas suppliers, traders and network operators can register and provide their data. Current and planned gas consumption are queried, for example. Netzagentur President Müller said: “The gas safety platform puts us in an even better position to take targeted and appropriate measures in the event of an emergency.”
The platform is managed by Trading Hub Europe GmbH. The joint venture of the German long-distance gas pipeline system operators is responsible for the German gas market organization.