Erfurt (dpa/th) – The operators of the Thuringian thermal, sports and leisure pools are in favor of being treated as particularly protected customers in the event of a gas emergency. As such, they would continue to be supplied with gas in the event of a gas shortage, the operators of the pools determined at a conference in Erfurt on Wednesday. Otherwise, economic problems up to the insolvency of bathing establishments must be expected. In the event of an emergency, politicians should work to ensure that at least inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services and school swimming can continue to be offered.
The bathing establishments pointed out that with the foreseeable surcharges from October 2022, energy expenditure will increase significantly. According to projections, the houses with the current gas price allocation would have monthly additional costs per bathroom of 10,000 to 35,000 euros. According to the baths, it is impossible to allocate these costs to the admission prices.
In the event of a gas supply stop, enormous economic consequences must be expected, not only due to closed baths and no entrance fees. Serious technical consequences for the systems are also to be expected. Pipe systems, filters and water basins would be damaged if the temperature dropped too much. According to the information, this also applies to bathroom and thermal bath areas that have just been renovated and modernized. Long closing times and subsequent renovations would be the result.
