What did the cabinet decide on Wednesday?
Julia Loehr
Business correspondent in Berlin.
consequences
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Robert Habeck’s (Greens) Ministry of Economic Affairs has drawn up two ordinances intended to reduce energy consumption in Germany – primarily gas consumption, but also electricity consumption. The ordinance for securing the energy supply through short-term effective measures, EnSikuMaV for short, is to come into force on September 1st and run until the end of February 2023. The medium-term EnSimiMaV is to apply for two years from October 1st.
What will change in early September?
The core elements of the short-term ordinance are: Common areas such as corridors or halls should no longer be heated in public buildings. There are exceptions for hospitals, schools and daycare centers. Work rooms in public buildings may be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees. Something is also set to change for private companies: the minimum temperature for activities while sitting will be lowered from 20 to 19 degrees, and lower values are planned for physically demanding activities. Retailers should not leave the doors of heated shops open permanently. In addition to heating energy, electricity should also be saved: buildings and monuments may no longer be illuminated from the outside, advertising boards must remain dark from 10 p.m. to 4 p.m. Shop windows are not affected. Tenants are given the right to heat their apartments less than provided for in the lease. Pools in private buildings may no longer be heated with electricity or gas. In addition, owners of buildings with at least ten residential units must inform their tenants about energy consumption, cost increases and potential savings.