Habeck’s push to the gas emergency causes resentment among consumer advocates

Robert Habeck

The German government is trying to prepare for the worst, says Economics Minister Habeck.

(Photo: Reuters)

Berlin Germany’s top consumer advocate, Ramona Pop, has rejected the idea of ​​Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to reconsider the priority given to private households in the allocation of gas in the event of a dramatic energy shortage. The fact that the Minister of Economics is questioning the law in force “increases people’s uncertainty,” said the head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV) to the Handelsblatt.

During a visit to Vienna on Tuesday, Habeck made it clear that he did not want to automatically put the industry at a disadvantage if there was a permanent shortage of gas. “We may be talking about a month-long interruption in gas flows,” said the Green politician. The European specifications did not fit exactly and might have to be tightened up.

In the event of gas bottlenecks, private households and critical infrastructure such as hospitals are to be supplied first. Industry and other companies would lose out. According to Habeck, this scenario is more suitable for a short-term failure, but not for the bottlenecks that are now threatening.

“No one should freeze,” he said. However, private households must also be held accountable. Otherwise there will be massive consequences for industry and the economy as a whole.

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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 by how much. 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.”

Pop also sees an urgent need for action. She accused the federal government of not doing enough to protect consumers. Habeck is now talking about a “nightmare scenario” in the event of a gas supply stop from Russia and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) about “social explosives”.

“The federal government must now prepare a third relief package”

Precautions must therefore now be taken in the event of an emergency – and not just for struggling energy companies such as the gas supplier Uniper, warned the chief consumer advocate. 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.

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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.

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In addition, Pop demanded a moratorium on electricity, gas and district heating cuts and the assumption of costs in the event of insolvency. “This requires clarity in the implementation,” warned the consumer advocate. “Will such a moratorium come and how is it supposed to work?”

The order of the day is also for everyone: save energy, Pop continued. Everyone has 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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