From August 2022 to March 2023, the EU wants to save 15 percent on gas. The states can even surpass this target by the end of November: Consumption has fallen by a fifth overall, in Germany by as much as a quarter. In contrast, consumption is increasing in two countries.
The European Union exceeded its gas savings target of 15 percent by the end of November. From August to November, EU countries consumed around 20 percent less gas than the average for the same period over the past five years, according to data released by the statistics office Eurostat. A total of 18 out of 27 countries exceeded the 15 percent target – including Germany with a decline of around 25 percent.
Consumption fell the most in Finland (minus 52.7 percent), Latvia (minus 43.2 percent) and Lithuania (minus 41.6 percent). According to Eurostat, six countries missed the 15 percent mark, and consumption even increased in two countries: Malta with a plus of 7.1 percent and Slovakia with a plus of 2.6 percent.
Against the background of the war in Ukraine, EU countries had agreed to voluntarily reduce gas consumption by 15 percent between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023, compared to the average consumption for the same period over the past five years . If not enough is saved and there are far-reaching supply bottlenecks, a Union alarm with binding savings targets can be triggered.
The German savings target is 20 percent. In Germany, the Energy Saving Ordinance came into force in September to reduce gas and electricity consumption. This stipulates, among other things, that shop doors are not permanently open, neon signs go out after 10 p.m. and monuments are not illuminated. At the workplace, a room temperature of 19 degrees should be sufficient, in public buildings the corridors remain cold.
