The largest German gas importer Uniper, from which many industrial customers and municipal utilities get their gas, is pushing for the price adjustment clause to be triggered quickly after the alarm level was declared.

This would make it possible to pass on the increased procurement costs to customers via the marketing chain.

“Due to the restrictions on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, only significantly lower gas volumes are currently coming from Russia, and replacements can only be obtained on the markets at very high prices.

It is important that with the so-called alert level, clarity is created very quickly as to what costs are incurred as a result of the currently tense supply situation," said CEO Klaus-Dieter Maubach of the FAZ

Uniper already doubts that the alert level will be enough.

"It is also clear that this is not a solution for this winter if the supply situation remains the same or worsens further in the coming weeks.

The gas storage levels are a "fever curve" for Germany's security of supply.

If this "temperature measurement" shows that it is not possible to fill up the gas storage tanks by October as required by law, further steps are urgently required."

The energy supplier Eon, which supplies around one million gas customers, is also concerned about the rising procurement costs.

It is crucial that the federal government creates the necessary framework conditions "to ensure the ability of the relevant players to act and to stabilize the markets and gas supply".

This includes specifying the price adjustment clause of the Energy Security Act.

Should the network agency determine a significant reduction in gas import volumes, "the additional costs of replacing gas imports should be distributed more evenly and more predictably," demanded Eon. 

Stadtwerke warn against activating the price clause

The industry association of the energy industry BDEW praised the declaration of the alarm level.

"We now need a joint effort," said association leader Kerstin Andreae.

She also drew attention to the rising wholesale prices and the higher purchasing costs of the suppliers.

"The companies' ability to act must be secured at very short notice if necessary, so that they can procure and deliver the required gas quantities despite extremely rising stock exchange prices".

Stadtwerke praised the fact that the government did not immediately activate the price clause.

"This would have a drastic impact on consumers," said Ingbert Liebing, general manager of the association of municipal companies.

In addition, the resulting burdens could vary greatly for individual customers, depending on the proportion of Russian gas in the supply contracts.

The prices would have to be shielded at the import stage.

"This would enable the affected dealers and utilities to maintain their delivery commitments on the agreed terms."

The financing can be done, for example, via a mixture of surcharge and state subsidy.