Hardly anyone would have thought four months ago that the gas price would fall as quickly and as sharply as it is currently.
The well-filled storage tanks help to relax, as do the mild weather and the new liquid gas capacities.
There is currently little sign of a mood of crisis in the country.
The airports are full, the restaurants too, and it's not just high earners who fire firecrackers worth several hundred euros into the air on New Year's Eve.
There is no question that the trend can turn around again as a result of a longer period of cold weather.
But that doesn't change the fact that the government's €200 billion defense against high energy prices is oversized and some of its instruments are counterproductive.
It is a problem that the price brakes for gas, district heating and electricity that have been in force since the beginning of January also benefit those who do not have a financial need for them.
In addition, customers now have even fewer incentives to switch to a cheaper provider.
What was actually needed now was a brake for the price brakes.
But so far nothing indicates that.