EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen is urging the governments of the Union’s member states in a letter to curb energy demand in order to reduce gas and electricity consumption against the backdrop of ‘exceptionally low’ storage levels.
According to the Commissioner, there is a risk of gas shortages when winter sets in, [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/27/eu-tells-countries-to-curb-energy-demand-as-gas-prices-face-winter-squeeze) reports, having obtained access to the letter.
“I invite you to consider taking or continuing to take measures that can sustain injections or reduce gas and electricity demand for as long as necessary,” reads the letter, noting that the situation “has not improved” since Jørgensen’s first warning in March.
The warning comes as EU gas storage is around 70% full, roughly 12 percentage points below the same point last year, according to the latest figures from the trade association Gas Infrastructure Europe.
The potential supply crisis is due to the fact that the global market, particularly Asia, is also interested in gas.
The concern within the EU, which is thus asking governments to work actively to reduce demand for energy, is reminiscent of that which prevailed shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Commission points specifically to measures that were used during the 2022 energy crisis, including reducing electricity consumption during peak hours, encouraging consumers to shift demand through smart meters and retail tariffs, limiting temperatures in public buildings, restricting outdoor heating and switching off unnecessary public lighting at night.
Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia to Europe are to cease by the end of 2026, while the ban on Russian gas via pipelines is to be implemented during 2027. Several European countries have imported more gas from Russia as the deadlines for the import bans have approached.
