The rising price of gas and the fear that the gas supply could collapse is causing many people to look for an alternative heating option. Fireplaces and wood stoves are already almost sold out and there are long waiting times (Blackout News: 10.07.22). Now the sale of electric fan heaters, oil radiators and infrared heating panels is booming.
Fear of a cold flat in winter increases
In Germany, the fear of having to sit in a cold flat in winter is growing. Meanwhile, landlords are already cutting their tenants’ hot water bills (Focus: 05.07.22). In addition, they are raising the ancillary rental costs considerably due to the drastic increase in gas prices. Politicians never tire of calling on the population to save gas and the Federal Network Agency announces that it can no longer guarantee the gas supply (Blackout-News: 06.07.22). In addition, there are more and more reports that Russia could turn off the gas tap to Europe. All this stirs up fear and panic among the population. As a result, people are trying to find alternatives to heat their homes in case of an emergency.
Image: Scheggia.agm at Italian Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sales figures of electric fan heaters increase strongly
The latest sales statistics now show that the sale of electric auxiliary heaters has increased sharply. These heaters primarily include electric fan heaters and oil radiators, but also modern infrared heating panels that can be operated via a normal power socket. Such devices are relatively inexpensive, but prices have risen sharply in the meantime due to the high demand. Operating these auxiliary heaters with electricity is, however, considerably more expensive than heating with gas. Nationwide, a kilowatt hour of electricity costs 37.21 cents, while the same energy with gas is still 10.96 cents, despite the high price of gas. It is therefore not possible to save money with such a heating source. However, it can still keep at least one room warm, at least in a makeshift way, if the gas stays off, is the idea of many.
Sharp rise in electricity consumption could trigger blackout
However, if many people do this, the electricity grid will also collapse, because a fan heater draws quite a lot of electricity. So it’s foreseeable that if the gas stays out, the next thing to go is electricity. In the end, electricity prices will also rise, and in the worst case, this will lead to a blackout. Then even the electric fan heater won’t help, unless you can run it with a mobile power generator.
Read also:
- Federal Network Agency can no longer guarantee gas supply to private households
- Government recommends buying emergency generator
- Energy supplier Uniper on the brink of extinction
- Gas shortage: municipalities prepare warming halls for population
- Experts doubt that Habeck’s LNG strategy will work
Price: € 389.99
