How times are changing: In the past, the professional groups most likely to be affected were interested in the levels of the big rivers or even the levels in the gas storage tanks.
The fact that the Russians hardly ever filled the largest German storage facility they controlled in Rheden last year was apparently not taken as a warning sign by anyone.
This summer, on the other hand, the water levels in rivers and gas storage facilities have established themselves as a topic of conversation for millions of people.
The widespread perception is that river levels are going in the wrong direction – they keep going down.
The fill levels in the gas storage facilities, on the other hand, are going in the right direction – because they are rising despite the lower supply from Russia.
After all, last Wednesday they were almost 75 percent full.
That doesn't sound bad, does it?
But beware!
Even full gas storage facilities cannot guarantee security of supply in Germany.
With a capacity of 243 terawatt hours, they are much too small for that.
In winter alone, Germany uses about twice the amount of gas in full storage facilities for heating – not including consumption in industrial processes.
Now Germany does not only get gas from Russia.
But the message is clear: If Russia were to stop deliveries after all, Germany would need to cut consumption by around 25 percent to get through the winter safely.
Is that doable?
According to experts, this is possible as long as savings are not seen as a nuisance, but as an urgent necessity.
Numerous companies have impressively found ways to replace gas in their production in recent months.
There will certainly be more to come in the coming months, but many private households can also make a contribution.
And the government should finally jump over its nuclear shadow when it comes to power generation.
Saving and storing must be the motto.