Still not a call for austerity
Germany’s gas consumption increases by six percent
January 6, 2024, 3:27 a.m
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More gas is being consumed in Germany than last winter. The situation at the Federal Network Agency is still relaxed. Nobody has to turn down the heating this winter – at least not because of an impending gas shortage.
Germany’s gas consumption rose by six percent this winter compared to last year. “We see an increase of almost three percent in private households and almost nine percent in industry,” said the President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, to the newspapers of the Funke media group. Nevertheless, the Federal Network Agency is optimistic.
“We are still using a good 16 percent less gas this winter than before the crisis,” said Müller. The gas storage facilities are also very well filled at over 90 percent. The Federal Network Agency therefore does not expect consumers to make any special efforts to save gas. There will be no calls to take cold showers or turn down the heating this year. “Every consumer can decide for themselves,” says Müller.
However, it still makes sense to use gas carefully in order to reduce costs. Due to the abolition of the energy price brakes, rising VAT again and rising CO prices, it will become more expensive to use gas heating. “I would say: You don’t have to heat every room in the house just like the living room. But you don’t endanger the gas supply if you do.”
Residual risk remains
However, the President of the Federal Network Agency did not want to give a complete all-clear for this winter; there are still remaining risks. “The explosions at Nord Stream I and II have not yet been solved. There was this incident between Estonia and Finland when a dragging anchor damaged the Balticconnector pipeline. And the Federal Prosecutor General is investigating damage to a liquid gas pipeline,” said Müller Funke newspapers.
A large part of the gas in Germany comes from Norway. If deliveries from Norway fail, full storage will last eight to ten weeks. “We have four liquid gas terminals on the North and Baltic Seas, two more are on the way. The storage facilities could be refilled from spring onwards.”