The EU wants the member states to use 15 percent less gas, the federal government is aiming for 20 percent.

In Germany, consumption is actually falling, but is still a long way from the savings targets.

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

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In the first half of the year it was 497 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), 14.7 percent less than in the same period last year.

However, the decline was mainly due to the mild weather, as the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) announced when the preliminary figures were announced on Tuesday.

Adjusted for temperature influences, it was 8 percent less gas.

The association does not give the main reason for this as appeals for savings, but rather the high prices: "But the economic downturn or personally motivated savings effects may also have contributed."

The strong reduction in June indicates that the new campaign by Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) for more energy efficiency is beginning to take hold.

In that month, adjusted gas consumption was almost a quarter below that of the same month last year, or 22.6 percent to be precise.

In view of the shortages caused by the Russian supply cutbacks, the use of gas should be concentrated there if it is difficult to substitute, for example as a basic material in the chemical or steel industry.

Critical point gas power generation

However, you want to reduce the generation of electricity, which is also successful.

According to the BDEW, around 12 percent less electricity was generated in gas-fired power plants in the first six months than a year ago.

BDEW boss Kerstin Andreae called for savings and at the same time advised against electric fan heaters: "In view of the high electricity prices, their use not only leads to high costs, but can also overload the power grids."