The population and business are called upon to voluntarily reduce their gas consumption by 15 percent. This is to avoid painful operations. Sports and leisure facilities could have their gas turned off. In the worst case, rationing threatens.
Companies can be required to convert to oil operations.
They came, talked a lot and ultimately said little. Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin outlined what the population and economy should be prepared for in the coming months. According to reports, they wanted to provide more specific information to the media on Wednesday and present draft regulations. However, due to objections from other departments, some points must be examined in more detail. The Federal Council will discuss this again in a week and then also send the ordinances to the consultation. These only come into effect when there are signs of a shortage of electricity or gas.
The question of whether households can also be held responsible in the event of a gas shortage was particularly controversial. There are concerns of a legal nature in the committee as to whether this is permissible at all. There are also doubts as to whether the Federal Council is not encroaching too much on the freedoms of tenants and homeowners with such a measure. However, such interventions would only come into play in an extraordinary situation such as a power shortage. Then you have to weigh up between reduced room temperatures in apartments and production stops for companies.
Rationing should be avoided as much as possible
The Federal Council finally agreed to use the consultation to test the response to restrictions in private households. He will definitely decide later. With a 40 percent share of gas consumption, households are significant. There is potential for room temperatures: one degree less heating reduces gas consumption by around 6 percent. Only rooms heated to 19 degrees would make a substantial contribution to savings.
However, private households would only be included in a third stage. If there is an immediate threat of a gas shortage, the Federal Council would first call for voluntary savings. This could reduce consumption by around 5 percent, said Parmelin. If this is not enough, the government can oblige companies to convert their plants from gas to oil operation. A number of companies have so-called dual-fuel systems that can be operated with gas or oil. This can reduce gas consumption by 15 to 20 percent.
Only in a third step would consumption be restricted and certain applications banned altogether. This is where the regulations for households come into play. Sports, leisure and wellness facilities, where the use of gas could be prohibited, would also be affected. Typically, gas is used to heat water and heat rooms.
With this range of measures, the Federal Council wants to avoid having to ration gas. This would result in greater economic damage. Quotas mean that companies are only allowed to use a certain amount of gas. All purchasers would be affected – with the exception of protected customers. This includes households, hospitals, homes and blue light organizations. Quotas lead to production losses in companies. There are likely to be calls quickly for the state to pay for it. According to Parmelin, the Federal Council has not yet discussed this issue.
Voluntary savings target of 15 percent
Before the four-stage action plan is ordered, the Federal Council is relying on it being voluntary. Switzerland is to voluntarily reduce gas consumption by 15 percent in the winter months – from October to the end of March 2023. The government is orienting itself towards the EU states, which have agreed on a voluntary savings target of the same scope. In this way, Switzerland can help prevent a shortage in Europe, said Sommaruga. To this end, the federal government is launching a savings campaign next week. It is intended to show how the population and business can save energy with simple measures. The government prefers households to turn down their heating voluntarily rather than forcing them to do so. The federal administration should set a good example.
The campaign appeals to companies to convert their dual-fuel systems to oil operation now. As a result, however, companies run the risk of not meeting their obligations to reduce CO2emissions and the limit values of the Clean Air Ordinance. The Federal Council has therefore announced that the relevant regulations will be relaxed.
There is no call to save electricity for the time being. This is amazing. Because in the EU, gas is also used to produce electricity. Therefore, savings in electricity also help to avert a gas shortage.