Energy crisis: Many consumers feel burdened - but only a third are taking precautions
Created: 05/10/2022 13:38
By: Stella Henrich
Worried about freezing in the cold winter months, more and more consumers are buying heaters.
But by no means everyone anticipates a worst-case scenario.
Munich - Most consumers in this country are already suffering from the high energy prices.
According to a Forsa survey commissioned by RTL Germany at the end of September this year, around 87 percent of those surveyed felt heavily burdened by the higher prices for gas, electricity and heating oil.
Apparently that has consequences.
According to their own statements, a good third have taken precautions should the energy supply for their own household be interrupted - in other words: a blackout paralyzes the supply of houses and apartments.
Energy Crisis: More than half do not believe in blackout
35 percent of those surveyed say they have bought an electric heater, a wood-burning stove or a fireplace just in case.
Noisy
According to a dpa survey in mid-September, eleven percent of citizens, more than one in ten, had purchased such a heater in view of the price increases and impending energy shortages.
On the other hand, 65 percent - regardless of whether they heat with gas or electricity - have not taken any precautions for a blackout,
n-tv.de
quotes the Forsa survey results.
87 percent of those questioned in a Forsa survey feel heavily burdened by the higher prices for gas, electricity and heating oil.
(Iconic image) © Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa
Anyone who has not yet purchased an alternative to heating with gas or electricity could be reassured by this result.
Because 58 percent of Germans believe that after a complete stop to gas supplies from Russia, Germany will be able to obtain enough gas from other sources in the coming months to meet the needs of private households and the economy.
According to the Forsa survey, only 36 percent – mostly East Germans (51 percent) – and especially AfD supporters (60 percent) fear that this will not be possible, so that the gas supply will have to be temporarily interrupted.
Forsa survey
The survey data was collected by the market and opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of RTL Germany on September 29 and 30, 2022.
The data is based on 1008 respondents.
The statistical error tolerance is +/- 3 percentage points.
Energy crisis: Nuclear power plants should continue to run
As at the beginning of September, only a minority of those surveyed are in favor of shutting down the three nuclear power plants still in operation by the end of the year (10 percent) or for the temporary continued operation of only two of the three nuclear power plants Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim until the end, as announced by Economics Minister Robert Habeck March 2023 (18 percent).
Instead, the vast majority of 68 percent of the citizens surveyed are still in favor of using all three nuclear power plants to generate electricity until 2024.
The traffic light coalition is currently still divided on this.
Political observers are even talking about a current nuclear scandal in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet.
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The surprising result of the Forsa survey: 42 percent of the supporters of the Greens are also in favor of the continued operation of all three nuclear power plants - including the nuclear power plant in Emsland.
Slightly fewer, ie 35 percent, are in favor of continuing to operate two nuclear power plants for the time being.
Energy crisis: can Robert Habeck overcome the crisis?
46 percent of the citizens surveyed expect that Habeck will overcome the current energy crisis.
A majority of East Germans (64 percent) and supporters of the CDU/CSU (58 percent) fear that Habeck will not be able to overcome the energy crisis and, by far the most, the AfD voters at 82 percent.
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However, even those who have already purchased an electric heater should consider that in the event of a gas supply failure in this country, all of the fan heaters purchased - an estimated 650,000 - could overload the network and thus promote a blackout.
A concern that drives the city and community day in particular.
A Bavarian municipality is therefore also distributing precautionary flyers should an absolute disaster actually occur.
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