Cold showers for German public as gas crisis starts to hit home

GERMANS will be forced to take cold showers after Hannover banned hot water to save gas and stave off a Russian-fuelled energy crisis.

Swimming pools will be icy cold and office heating forbidden under the first rules to turn off heating and hot water in all public buildings, gyms and sports facilities.

Panicked politicians in Berlin are scrambling to find ways to save gas this winter amid fears that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, could cut them off from much-needed supplies of Rus- sian gas.

Portable air-conditioning units, heaters and radiators have also been banned in the crackdown on energy consumption.

The move comes after the federal government in Berlin earlier this month published guidance to curtail gas usage, calling on individuals to cut back by taking shorter showers and washing laundry at lower temperatures.

Germany, the EU’S largest economy, has long been reliant on supplies of Russian gas to heat homes and keep its factories open.

Before its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow used to deliver Germany 55 per cent of its gas. However, this figure has fallen to 26 per cent as Berlin seeks to diversify its supply in the wake of the invasion.

European politicians have accused Mr Putin of weaponising energy supplies to the continent in retaliation for Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

Earlier this week, EU countries agreed on a plan to cut gas usage by up to 15 per cent, voluntarily, in order to protect the economy if the Kremlin completely shuts off its supply.

This week, France announced plans to save on energy including a ban on illuminated advertising at night, except at airports and train stations, and stopping shops from keeping doors open when the air conditioning or heating is switched on.

The European Commission said it was closing its most energy-intensive buildings and restricting heating at a maximum of 19C (66.2F) and air-conditioning at 25C (77F).