"Not the end of the road": Stadtwerke boss fears further price increases for gas

Created: 09/26/2022, 19:00

By: Andrea Herman

Cold days in September have meant that, of all times, when gas prices are rising rapidly, the heating in many households had to be switched on – eight to ten days before the start of the actual heating period.

© Marcus Brandt

Gas prices are rising rapidly: From November 1st, customers of Stadtwerke Freising will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

And the end of the road has not yet been reached.

County

– Gas supplies from Russia continue to decline, and as a result, energy prices continue to rise.

Stadtwerke Freising already raised their prices on August 1st, and a further increase will follow in November.

Up until now, customers with an annual consumption of up to 18,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) had to pay 10.42 cents per kilowatt hour (gross). From November 1, customers will have to pay 15.08 cents/kWh and thus 4.66 cents/kWh more.

With an annual consumption of more than 18,000 kilowatt hours, 14.59 cents/kWh (gross) will be due in future - previously it was 9.94 cents/kWh.

And that's not the end of the story, according to Dominik Schwegler, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Freising.

It will continue to go up.”

Customer reactions are inevitable.

With a view to the war in Russia and the current situation, there would have been understanding on the part of customers in the summer, according to Schwegler.

Now, on the other hand, the employees are being met with "insights" - even though "the customers are aware that we are not doing this of our own free will." The situation is difficult: "We are aware of the exorbitant price increases," says Schwegler.

"But we can't change it."

Schwegler's appeal not only to gas consumers, but to all citizens: "Use energy responsibly." The managing director is certain that "savings can certainly still be made in many areas", even though "life must go on".

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.

In the FT interview, he lists a few examples of how energy can be saved in concrete terms: lowering the room temperature by one degree, showering instead of bathing, making sure that the heating works properly, and washing no longer at 90 degrees and, if possible, no more wash at 60 degrees.

Schwegler emphasizes: "Anything that requires extreme heat is expensive."

Even if many customers try to turn on the heating later in the fall, Schwegler knows, looking back at the past few days and nights, which have sometimes been very cool, that many heating systems are already running.

"Strictly speaking, the heating period starts on October 1st." But because the temperatures were already in the single digits, it was earlier this year - about eight to ten days earlier than a year ago.

The managing director answers the question of whether there is enough gas for this winter: "Everything is being done to ensure that we get through." But the citizens are also called upon: "Collectively reduced consumption will get us through the winter." Schwegler carefully follows: “Yes, there is enough.

We assume that we will make it through in the household customer segment."

You can find more current news from the district of Freising at Merkur.de/Freising.