Mannheimers are trembling: gas supplies for 56,000 households are in jeopardy!

Mannheimers are trembling: gas supplies for 56,000 households are in jeopardy!

The new “heat planning law” is causing a huge stir: long-established gas infrastructures are being dismantled with a bang, while communities are now obliged to develop comprehensive heat plans. This change, in effect since January 1, 2024, forces municipalities to embark on the decarbonization path by drastically reducing their gas networks. In the city of Mannheim, for example, more than 50,000 customers are to be disconnected from the gas network, reports Frank Bothmann from Achgut.com.

The “Heat Planning Act” (WPG) appears to be a technocratic giant that ignores the traditional principles of local self-government in Germany. Due to the regulation under this law, which is linked to the Building Energy Act, municipalities are under considerable pressure to develop new heating plans without sufficiently involving citizens. What is irritating is that there is no provision for democratic co-determination before these plans are passed. In Mannheim, citizens are hardly involved. It is possible to comment on plans, but the fundamental decisions have long been made.

Subsidies for consulting firms

A bitter pill for many municipalities is that the law does not provide for any funding. Instead, cities are being lured with a total of 500 million euros in funding to ensure the plans can be implemented. These funds mainly go to consulting firms that develop the heat plans, as many municipalities do not have the necessary staff. A financial blessing for these companies, but an administrative nightmare for communities and citizens.

Gas supply at risk

In Mannheim the scenario looks particularly bleak. Around 56,000 people could lose their current cheap gas supply and will be forced to look for new, often expensive alternatives. Planned and pushed through decimations of the gas infrastructure without serious consideration of citizens' voices could have fatal consequences. A large proportion of citizens express the desire to get involved in district heating. But how fair and just is this forced change?

The WPG relies on “decarbonization pathways” that seemingly sacrifice everything in the name of climate protection. By 2030, 30 percent of heat should come from renewable energies, and by 2040 even 80 percent. However, these ambitious goals seem to take little account of the existing gas infrastructure and its maintenance. Social consensus and discussion? None! So it's no wonder that dissatisfaction is growing.

Technocracy hits citizens

The criticism of the “Heat Planning Act” is not just a question of implementation, but also a question of democracy. Citizens feel ignored and there is a complete lack of opportunity to participate. As the Tweets from Achgut_com to emphasize sparingly but succinctly, this is an unprecedented example of political paternalism. Will there be local resistance to stop this gigantic regulatory machinery?

In summary, the imposition of the WPG remains a deep cut in municipal structures and civil rights. Without political and social involvement, the decision-making processes seem impenetrable. It is high time for discussion and debate – and for combating the centralized control that is inexorably heading towards us. Let's learn from examples like Mannheim and provide for ourselves in a self-determined way, for a future that also recognizes citizens' interests.