Heating bill in Switzerland predicted to grow by $104 per month

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Aug 2022 23:02
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The increase would especially affect the buildings that are heated by oil and gas or that are inadequately isolated, sources say.

Heating bill in Switzerland predicted to grow by $104 per month

Some landlords in Switzerland are already proposing that their tenants pay extra 100 Swiss francs ($104) in anticipation of a further increase in energy prices, Swiss broadcaster RTS reported on Sunday.

Tenants were offered to pay extra 50 francs for a two-bedroom apartment and 80-200 francs for a five-room apartment in order to "avoid any unpleasant surprises," according to RTS. The increase would especially affect the buildings that are heated by oil and gas or that are inadequately isolated, the broadcaster reported, citing local real estate agents.

Electricity prices are expected to increase by 30% for Swiss households in 2023.

Switzerland is one of the most high-risk European countries to suffer from power shortages in the upcoming winter.

The Swiss Federal Council decided on Wednesday that power plant operators could negotiate contracts for the use of backup power plants in the event of an electricity shortage this winter. Swiss authorities have warned that for the first time they may impose restrictions on energy consumption in the coming winter if electricity or gas shortages occur.

Earlier this month, the head of the Swiss Federal Electricity Commission ElCom, Werner Luginbuhl, urged citizens to stock up on candles and firewood due to possible power outages in the country in the coming winter.

The Swiss police chief, Fredy Fassler, warned on Saturday that people in Switzerland may go into riots if energy shortages occur in the upcoming winter.

Since 2021, energy prices in Europe have been rising rapidly following a global trend. After Russia launched a military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine and the imposition of several sanctions packages against Moscow, the energy situation deteriorated considerably, prompting EU countries to search for alternatives to Russian energy supplies.

So far, efforts to address this crisis have been pitiful. For instance, in Germany, recommendations to slow or halt the consumption of gas have already been issued weeks ago in order to stock up for the coming winter.

Last week, it was reported that millions of German lower-income households will find it hard to pay their energy bills this winter amid a sharp rise in gas prices, according to Lukas Ievenkotten, head of the German Renters' Association.

On Monday, German Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck lamented the entirety of the country's business model, dismissing it as reliant on cheap energy imports from Russia that will never return.

Whereas in France, French President Emmanuel Macron has hosted MBS to discuss the importance of diversifying energy supplies to EU states. But far-right French leader Marine Le Pen urged the EU to put an end to sanctions against Russia.

Yesterday, an NHS chief warned that soaring energy costs will kill more than 10,000 people in the UK this winter; a situation the NHS Confederation referred to as a "humanitarian crisis".

The EU has vowed to pursue the imposing of severe restrictions on Russia and some nation-members have recently launched a campaign to ban Russians from entering the Schengen zone.