In the debate about an impending emergency for the gas supply in Germany, the SPD party leader Saskia Esken emphasized the priority of private households over industry and called for a protective shield for consumers.
"Private households and system-relevant facilities must clearly have priority in a gas shortage," said Esken of the "Rheinische Post".
This is also laid down in the gas emergency plan: private households and social facilities are particularly protected there.
"For me, schools are also part of it," added Esken.
The federal government is currently examining the security of the power supply for the coming winter, explained the SPD party leader.
"As things stand at present, we expect that there will be no disruption to the power supply even if there is a complete failure of gas supplies from Russia," she said.
"Nevertheless, we have to be prepared for everything." Consumers who could no longer afford the energy prices "also need a protective shield that guarantees that the home stays warm and energy remains affordable".
Germany's top consumer advocate, Ramona Pop, has also rejected the ideas of Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) to reconsider the priority of private households in the allocation of gas in the event of a dramatic energy shortage.
From the point of view of energy economist Claudia Kemfert, a gas shortage does not necessarily have to occur even if Russia were to stop all gas deliveries to Germany.
"Whether there really is a gas shortage depends on various aspects," said the energy expert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW).
These included, above all, the development of gas supply relationships with countries other than Russia, the constant filling of storage facilities and the saving of gas.
In addition, there are other options.
"But if at least the first three components are done well, I don't see that we actually have to have a gas shortage," said Kemfert.
Germany has started these measures or is already on the right track.
Even the Bafin is worried about the consequences for banks
So far, Germany's alternative sources of conventional natural gas have primarily included the Netherlands and Norway.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) tried to find new supply relationships for liquid gas on a trip to Qatar in the spring.
Whether, when and how much more gas will actually come from the emirate is an open question.
The filling level of the German gas storage facilities is increasing slowly but steadily.
It is currently around 65 percent.
The Federal Government and the Federal Network Agency have repeatedly called on consumers and industry to save energy.
The President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Peter Adrian, asked private consumers and less energy-intensive companies to start saving energy consistently out of solidarity with industry.
“There are real supply bottlenecks and our entire economy is threatened with a crisis of unknown proportions.
The consequences of shutting down individual sectors or companies cannot be overlooked," Adrian told the Rheinische Post.
The head of the financial supervisory authority Bafin, Mark Branson, also sees possible consequences for banks and savings banks in the event of a gas shortage.
The industry was still doing well due to the Corona crisis because the state had spread its rescue package widely, Branson told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
In the event of an energy crisis, almost the entire economy would be affected.
The state cannot take care of everything.
“What happens if a deep recession comes, perhaps combined with an interest rate shock?
Then you can't rule out that banks will have problems, especially since some institutions have a lot of real estate risks or interest rate risks on their balance sheets," said the Bafin boss.