PublishedSeptember 23, 2022, 8:08 PM
energy crisis“We will not mobilize the police for checks in the apartments”
The measures proposed by the Federal Council in the event of a gas shortage, in particular sanctions or restrictions on heating, are greeted with lukewarmness.
The government is invited to specify the terms of the sanctions provided for.
20min/Anna Bila
Limiting or even prohibiting the use of gas, lowering the heating and introducing penalties: these were some of the measures proposed by the Federal Council in the event of a shortage. Thursday, Cantons, parties and organizations transmitted their remarks following the consultation. Good, but might do better. The Federal Council must review its copy.
They won’t check if your sauna is turned off
The Canton of Vaud, for example, was very skeptical regarding the penalties provided for in the event of infringements. The Confederation project is far too vague. “It must be specified what type of control is planned and in what ways any breaches will be sanctioned in a homogeneous manner, while taking into account the limited nature of cantonal resources”, writes the Council of State of Vaud.
In more direct terms: “The Council of State would like to inform the Federal Council that it does not
mobilize the police to carry out unannounced checks in the apartments, but that it
will rely essentially on the conscience of the citizen”, he also writes. Go check “if the sauna is off or if the temperature is respected”, the Canton does not have the resources. “The police can at most intervene in response to concrete information,” says the government.
All in the same boat
On the other hand, the Canton would like administrative fines to be imposed, which the Federal Council did not propose. “The fine procedure should apply to less serious breaches, in order to avoid an avalanche of criminal proceedings,” writes the government. According to “Blick”, the Cantons all agree: the sanctions, for example fines, must be standardized at Swiss level, so that each Canton does not follow its own policy.
Limiting the temperature to 19 degrees also gives rise to criticism. “The temperature is not uniform in a room, a building or a factory”, illustrates the Canton of Vaud. The Greens also find that providing for a temperature in the law is too rigid, not everyone supporting the same levels.
More exceptions
The Federal Council’s proposal includes exceptions to restrictions on use, such as in hospitals, nursing homes or medical practices. They are not sufficient, says the Canton of Vaud, which asks that we add schools, nurseries and nurseries, prisons, asylum centers, companies providing food supplies. The Canton of Neuchâtel also talks regarding schools. On the side of economic organizations, we are asking that companies which cannot do without gas can benefit from exceptions in certain cases.