Energy budget in Austria secured for the winter
Acutely, one wants to establish new supply relationships with other countries, one can also imagine using the much more expensive liquid gas to ease the situation for the time being, because that has priority, according to Gewessler.
Worst case scenario
Even in the worst-case scenario, which would mean stopping deliveries from Russia and a cold snap in Europe, Austria would with the current According to the minister, the storage status will last until the end of March or the beginning of April. “But we are not yet in this worst case scenario. We have gas storage levels of around 20 percent and a mild winter.”
Measures to save storage levels could also be a request for large companies to reduce their production. However, this should only take place in close consultation with the companies. The Energy Steering Advisory Board will deal intensively with this and other questions over the next few days.
Prevention and Liberation
How gas prices will develop cannot be predicted, but it is foreseeable that gas prices WILL remain high. “In particular, we have already initiated some things for households, such as suspending the green electricity flat rate. The green electricity subsidy is a measure for companies. The cost-of-living adjustment and the energy cost bonus are also intended to provide support.”
Two things are to be set in motion by the summer, namely better provision and liberation from dependence on Russian gas. “Due to the renewable heat law, gas boilers should no longer be allowed to be used in new buildings either.” That is a sustainable and correct measure. “Every wind turbine and every photovoltaic system is a sign of independence and a secure energy system. The Heat Act is the next step,” says Gewessler.