In view of the throttled gas supplies from Russia, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to announce the next stage in the gas emergency plan in two and a half weeks.

According to participants, Habeck said he was planning the so-called alert level for July 8 on Wednesday morning in the Bundestag's Energy Committee.

The date was chosen because the Federal Council meets on that Friday and two new laws, which are fundamental to the alarm level, can come into force, the Energy Security Act and the Replacement Power Plant Provision Act.

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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On the one hand, they allow coal-fired power plants to be taken from the reserve to take over the generation of electricity from gas.

This would free up natural gas for industry or heating.

Secondly, energy supply groups like Uniper will in future be able to pass on the sharply increased purchase prices for gas to their customers, i.e. to municipal utilities, industrial groups or other end customers.

However, that would not be automatic.

According to the Energy Security Act, the Federal Network Agency would first have to sharpen the right to adjust prices.

In return, she has noticed a "considerable reduction in the total amount of gas imported into Germany".

This is currently 18 percent below the usual level. Whether this is sufficient for triggering would probably have to be clarified politically.

Maintenance work for Nord Stream 1 is pending

It is still unclear whether and how end customers who are already suffering greatly from inflation will be relieved.

From the energy industry it is said that there is "hectic activity" in the federal government to help private end users and the economy on this issue.

Germany is currently still in the early warning stage of the gas emergency plan.

Beyond the price disclosure, little changes in the alert level.

It is more of a sign that the situation is getting worse.

Furthermore, the market should largely ensure the supply.

Only at the third and last level of escalation, the so-called emergency level, does the state intervene directly.

Then the Federal Network Agency has the right to allocate gas to industrial companies.

Private households and other protected areas, such as hospitals or security forces, are exempt from this management.

For days, Russia has only been conducting 40 percent of the maximum capacity through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the most important pipeline to Germany.

In July, for which Habeck is now making provisions, it could be even less because long-planned maintenance work is then pending.

Then there is the possibility that the flow is completely throttled.

Gas is the most important primary energy source in Germany after oil.

Due to the heat, it is currently used less than in the cold season.

But if it doesn't happen, the industry will suffer and the gas holders can no longer be filled.

But that is necessary in order to be prepared for autumn and winter.