Energy crisis in Germany: is the consumer app coming now?

Created: 08/11/2022 11:38 am

By: Victoria Krumbeck

Energy prices are rising particularly sharply this year.

An app could help consumers save on energy bills.

Munich – Energy costs will continue to rise in the coming months.

Warning comparison portals.

On average, around 3.3 million households could pay almost 52 percent more for their gas supply.

There are already energy-saving measures that consumers can implement.

To save energy even better, an expert suggests a consumer app.

Following the model of the Corona warning app, the government could commission the development of such an app. 

Gas crisis: An energy warning app could help save

Graham Weale, Professor of Energy Economics at the University of Bochum, proposes such an energy cost app.

This can help consumers save energy.

“In my opinion, energy costs should be as visible as fuel costs.

And that would be possible with a relatively simple app," he explained to

.

You need different information that is essentially already available.

My suggestion is that the government should require landlords and utilities to roll out the app by early October," Weale said in the interview.

Consumers could use an app to save on energy costs.

(Iconic image) © Uwe Umstätter/IMAGO

Due to the Ukraine war, energy costs have increased.

With such an app on their smartphone, tenants could easily see how energy consumption is changing.

Developing such an app is straightforward, as Weale explained.

"Technically, it's not that difficult.

On the one hand you need the current heating costs and on the other hand the outside temperatures.

All of this information is readily available.”

What do you think of an energy cost app?

Energy cost app: A relief for consumers

Weale blamed the government for developing the app.

“I think that could be a task for the government.

Just like it was in the case of the Corona app.

At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that the energy suppliers will immediately take the initiative, along with the large real estate companies such as Vonovia,” explained Weale.

However, there are no concrete plans for the app yet.

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There are countries that are making better progress in saving energy than Germany.

For example in Weale's home country Great Britain.

The so-called “Energy Company Obligation” has existed since 2013.

It is a government energy efficiency program designed to help reduce CO2 emissions.

This is also intended to combat energy poverty.

It obliges energy suppliers to work with their customers so that they can save as much energy as possible, Weale explained.

The Corona warning app has now been downloaded 43.2 million times.

An energy cost app could reach the masses.