The week after Govt approved the taking of extraordinary measures to save energyelectricity consumption in Spain fell by 3.7%, despite high temperatures that usually force citizens to turn on the air conditioners, Energy and Environment Minister Teresa Ribera said today.
More than half the energy savings promised by Spain, in the context of the pan-European effort to reduce the use of natural gas, can come from the strict control of the temperature and the turning off of the lights in public buildings and shop windows, the minister added. “We will be able to jointly respond to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s energy blackmail“, he continued.
European Union officials accuse Putin of using the streams natural gas as a political tool, after Russian forces invaded neighboring Ukraine.
Compared to the corresponding week last year and taking into account other factors such as temperature and working conditions during that period, energy consumption decreased by 6%, according to the ministry.
EU countries agreed to reduce natural gas use by 15% and stockpiling, in preparation for a possible disruption of supplies from Russia. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia provided 40% of the fuel supplied to the EU. As it has limited capabilities to export any surplus natural gas to its neighboring countries, Spain agreed to a 7% reduction.
Ribera, according to the Athens News Agency, also said that the mechanism put into operation in June by Spain and Portugal and which concerns the temporary subsidy of the production costs of the units in operation with fossil fuels has brought the desired result and reduced electricity prices. Thanks to this mechanism, consumers whose accounts are linked to the wholesale price or those who have recently renewed their contracts on the open market, they saved 1.38 billion euros in the last two months.
Source: News Beast
I am Derek Black, an author of World Stock Market. I have a degree in creative writing and journalism from the University of Central Florida. I have a passion for writing and informing the public. I strive to be accurate and fair in my reporting, and to provide a voice for those who may not otherwise be heard.
