Federal Network Agency calls for prices for private gas users to be increased immediately

Created: 04/02/2022, 16:10

By: Kerstin Kesselgruber

Because of the high prices for gas, also due to the Ukraine war, the Federal Network Agency warns of a rude awakening in heating bills.

Berlin – The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, has spoken out in favor of increasing deductions for gas users now.

Private households should not be confronted with the rising costs too late, said Müller of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

"If the deductions are not increased until next year, many people will be unprepared," said the head of the authority.

"Many households will not notice until next year's heating bill how much the price has risen and cannot cope with the additional payments," he fears.

When dealing with gas shortages, price signals such as higher discounts are more effective than appeals to do without.

A compressor station for Russian natural gas in Mallnow: Private households should not be confronted with rising gas prices too late, says the head of the Federal Network Agency.

© Patrick Pleul/dpa

Gas emergency plan and high prices: Federal Network Agency would have to decide on shutdown

Müller also criticized the expectation that his authority should now determine the order in which the industry should turn off the gas tap in an emergency.

"It won't work," he said.

Too many boundary conditions are open for this.

The network agency will now define positive criteria.

But that too is complex because of the interdependence of the economy.

Proper heating: the tricks you can use to save money and energy

Because of the Ukraine conflict*, the risk has increased that Russia could cut gas supplies.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) therefore announced the early warning stage of the gas emergency plan on Wednesday (March 30th, 2022).

At a later stage, the Federal Network Agency would have to decide whether to switch off gas users.

The people in Germany are currently feeling the high energy prices, especially when filling up.

Against the background of the Ukraine war, the party leader of the Greens, Ricarda Lang, called for a speed limit on the autobahns in Germany*.

(kke with dpa/AFP)