Germany's municipal utilities initiate the transition away from natural gas – with far-reaching consequences for households and businesses.
In several cities, the schedule is already set: Mannheim wants to shut down the gas network by 2035, in Augsburg, Hanover, and Würzburg the phase-out is to take place by 2040, Munich and Regensburg are aiming for 2045. But many suppliers are still undecided - almost every second is examining whether a switch to "green gases" is possible or a complete dismantling would be more economical.
VKU Managing Director Ingbert Liebing demands that the costs of the transition should not fall solely on the customers. District heating, heat pumps, and alternative energy sources must be available and affordable by then. Additionally, 1.4 million medium-sized businesses still depend on the gas networks – many of them rely on gaseous energy carriers.
According to the plans of the federal government, heat supply should be completely climate-neutral by 2045. But critics warn: The forced withdrawal from the gas infrastructure threatens to financially overwhelm households, especially those with older buildings.
