The German state becoming the owner of the gas company Uniper gets understanding from the citizens, who say they save on heating, hot water use and driving.
DÜSSELDORF The last days of the street festival have been celebrated on the banks of the Rhine River over the weekend. The Rheinkirmes market has been organized in Düsseldorf since the 15th century.
Financially, Germans are also celebrating as if it were the last day: many are preparing for tougher times in the fall and winter. The partygoers say that the money wasted in Tivoli this weekend should be saved for something else in the future.
Next winter is scary, because the price of energy will rise quickly and also accelerate the rise of other consumer prices. The financial situation of households is getting tighter. Economic sentiment – citizens’ financial confidence – is now the key in the entire history of measurement.
On the streets of Düsseldorf, we asked people’s opinions about the energy crisis and the rescue of the gas company Uniper, a subsidiary of the state-owned company Fortum.
“We save water”
A married couple from Aachen Annelore Muller and Hubert Smeets says that saving energy has become the number one topic of conversation in the summer among their circle of friends.
– We ourselves save on hot water and heating. If a person wants to eat, the price of energy and also consumer prices are very important, says Smeets.
Müller and Smeets are confident that the Chancellor By Olaf Scholz Friday’s promise to support the citizens will come true. “No one is left alone,” Scholz said, and told about the federal government’s tens of billions in support package for households and businesses affected by rising energy prices. For example, housing allowance will be increased.
“It would be good for Uniper to be under German ownership”
Germany’s energy crisis is primarily due to the fact that the country is so dependent on Russian fossil energy. Putin has used gas as a weapon and a means of blackmail towards Europe.
Finns’ keys are involved in the German energy game, because the state company Fortum owns the majority of Germany’s largest gas broker, Uniper. On Friday, it was decided to transfer part of the company to the German state, you can read more here.
Pensioner Wolfgang Kemnitz says that he considers it a bad thing that Uniper is owned by a foreigner.
– It is good that the state decided to support the company. During the corona pandemic, Lufthansa was supported, why can’t we now also support gas companies, says Kemnitz.
He and his wife have not yet had to save on energy use, but in the fall the couple will start a savings cycle.
– Winter is scary. Some Germans definitely need support, Kemnitz thinks.
“The salary loses its value”
Single parent of a schoolgirl by Pamela Blankenstein according to him, the situation of his family is “serious, bad”.
– Everything has become more expensive. The salary loses its value, and you can no longer afford the same things as before, he says.
Blankenstein says that he saves on driving and rides more by bike.
– However, I am dependent on the car. Now in summer we are fine, but when winter comes, the situation is bad because we heat with gas and I am alone with my daughter.
“Uniper must reform”
Father of two small children Gerrit Sasse considers it important that the state decided to support Uniper.
– Companies like Uniper must be supported so that they do something for the future as well – so they don’t just supply gas from Russia, but also develop new ones, i.e. hydrogen and other gases.
In Germany, Uniperia has been compared to the airline Lufthansa, which received large government subsidies during the corona pandemic. Now the fact that the customers, i.e. the citizens, also receive support is praised.
– Lufthansa was also supported (during the corona pandemic), why not gas companies as well. It was wrong to trust Russia as an energy supplier, says Wolfgang Kemnitz.