Berlin desires a 2% reduction in gas consumption via new legislation

Officials announced on Friday that new measures to reduce Germany's gas use by 2% will require public and private consumers to make significant cuts as Europe faces a sharp decline in Russian gas supply.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck told Süddeutsche Zeitung last week that the state would require energy-saving measures including heating public buildings to no more than 19 degrees Celsius (66.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to ministry officials who spoke with Reuters, corridors and huge halls should not be heated at all, with the exception of hospitals and nursing homes. Private pools may no longer be heated, and building and memorial lighting should be turned off to conserve electricity.

Additionally, illuminated advertisements must be turned off daily between 22:00 and 6:00 a.m.

13% of Germany's energy comes from fossil fuels, and approximately half of the country's homes utilize gas for heating. Gas also accounts for one-third of the industrial energy consumption. Russia has supplied fifty percent of this gas in recent years.

To get through the winter without resorting to gas rationing, Germany must reduce its gas use by 20 percent compared to before the crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The replacement of gas-fired power plants with coal-fired power plants is predicted to reduce consumption by an additional 3 to 5 percent. As a result of rising petrol prices, consumption has reduced by as much as 8 percent.

Germany will also rely on gas storage facilities and liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals during the peak winter months of gas use.