德国近两成城市公用事业计划退出天然气：消费者面临成本不确定性

Core Insights - The German energy transition is leading many municipal utility companies (Stadtwerke) to abandon natural gas in favor of alternative energy sources like district heating (Fernwärme) and heat pumps (Wärmepumpen) [1] - VKU warns of significant uncertainty and high costs for consumers as the 2045 goal for a complete halt of natural gas supply approaches, urging the federal government to establish a clear policy framework [3] - A significant portion of Stadtwerke remains uncertain about the future of their natural gas networks, with 46% undecided and 23% planning partial closures or conversions to green gas networks [3] Industry Trends - MVV, an energy company in Mannheim, plans to close its natural gas network by 2035, facing local opposition due to the high costs of heat pumps for residents unable to access district heating [4] - The German government's target is to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, phasing out oil and gas heating in favor of district heating, heat pumps, or green gases, but lacks clear legal regulations [5] Policy Recommendations - VKU emphasizes the need for local heat planning (Kommunale Wärmeplanung) to be completed by mid-2026 for cities with populations over 100,000 and by mid-2028 for smaller towns [5] - Proposed measures include establishing a "conversion bonus" to provide financial support to affected homeowners and a "compensation account" to cover losses incurred by network operators during the transition [6]