The European regulation provides for the protection of critical infrastructure and consumers, but not that of business and industry. That only makes sense in the event of a short-term disruption, said Habeck. “But that’s not the scenario we have now.” It is therefore important to consider the consequences of a long-term interruption of industrial production. It’s about how private customers could contribute to saving gas.
The economy welcomed the minister’s considerations, while politicians from the SPD and Union, on the other hand, expressed criticism, as did consumer advocates.
The president of the employers’ association Gesamtmetall, Stefan Wolf, urgently requested a change in prioritization. “Industrial companies must receive gas as a priority during any alarm level if their inventory or their production facilities are at acute risk or if the supply chains would result in massive production losses beyond the operation,” Wolf told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
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The President of the foreign trade association BGA, Dirk Jandura, pointed out the relevance of cold chains when prioritizing. These are essential for the supply of food and medicine and are therefore systemically important, he said.
Saar Prime Minister Rehlinger for federal-state decision on gas distribution
Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) advocated that such decisions should be made jointly by the federal and state governments. “In such a serious situation, it will be necessary for politicians to make such serious considerations transparent,” Rehlinger told the Handelsblatt. “I advocate that these decisions, should fears come true, be agreed jointly and impartially between federal and state governments.”
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Rehlinger was reluctant to comment on Habeck’s initiative. “It makes no sense to want to have distribution debates without concrete figures on how serious the gas shortage is,” said the SPD politician. However, Habeck was right when he pointed out that in the event of a shortage, it would be necessary to save energy in private households as well. “Because if industry stands still, we risk massive unemployment.”
A spokeswoman for Habeck emphasized on Monday that Habeck was primarily concerned with saving energy. “That means kindergartens, hospitals, private consumers are protected consumers and they will continue to be supplied and supplied even in the event of a gas shortage and will not be switched off.”
But it is also clear, the spokeswoman continued, “that in the event of a gas shortage, all consumers must make a contribution to saving energy.” This requires energy-saving standards.
The federal government could enact energy-saving ordinances via the Energy Security Act. It could be about lowering the specifications for minimum temperatures when heating. “No one should freeze,” Habeck emphasized in Vienna. However, private households must also be held accountable. Otherwise there will be massive consequences for industry and the economy as a whole.
Top consumer advocate: Habeck “increases people’s uncertainty”
Habeck also received criticism for his statements on gas priorities from Germany’s top consumer advocate Ramona Pop. The fact that the Minister of Economic Affairs is questioning the law in force “increases people’s uncertainty,” said the head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV) to the Handelsblatt.
SPD leader Saskia Esken is also pushing for private households to be prioritized over industry. She told the “Rheinische Post” that the gas emergency plan stipulates that social institutions and private households are particularly protected. Schools are also part of it.
The CSU consumer politician Volker Ullrich spoke of a “wrong debate” with regard to the prioritization of gas deliveries. “It has to be about guaranteeing security of supply for the winter by all means,” the member of the Bundestag told the Handelsblatt. “This also includes the continued operation of the nuclear power plants and the strategic procurement of gas on the world markets.”
Russia had already significantly reduced gas supplies recently. Due to the maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, they have even been at zero since the beginning of the week. It is unclear whether deliveries will start again after the maintenance – and how strong. Habeck spoke of dark clouds on the horizon. Scenarios had to be discussed that had been unimaginable for a long time. “Now time is of the essence.”
“The federal government must now prepare a third relief package”
Because of the impending gas shortage, consumer advocate Pop sees an urgent need for action. Precautions must now be taken for emergencies, but not only for struggling energy companies such as the gas supplier Uniper. The federal government has promised help to the energy company, which has gotten into trouble as a result of the gas crisis, and is examining other options in addition to participation.
Pop urges that the focus of aid should now be placed more on consumers. “The federal government must now prepare a third relief package and not only when the high costs have already had an impact,” said the VZBV boss.
In particular, people with low, but increasingly also middle-income, would no longer be able to pay their bills if prices exploded, Pop warned. She called for a higher heating cost subsidy, in particular for housing benefit recipients and pensioners, which had to be linked to price developments.
SPD chairwoman Esken spoke out in favor of a “protective shield” for consumers who could no longer afford the high energy prices. This should guarantee “that the apartment stays warm and energy affordable”. Esken did not say how this protective shield should be implemented.
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Pop called for a moratorium on electricity, gas and district heating cuts and for the costs to be covered in the event of insolvency. The order of the day is also for everyone: save energy, Pop continued. Everyone would have to face up to their responsibilities here – industry, trade, commerce, the public sector and private households. “But please be fair, just and transparent.”
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