Current Questions on Energy Policy (October 2022)

The study on current energy policy issues was conducted by the Kantar opinion research institute on behalf of the Press and Information Office of the German Federal Government. During the survey period from 19.10.2022 to 25.10.2022, the German-speaking population aged 14 and over was surveyed in telephone interviews (CATI) on the following topics: attitudes toward energy policy with a focus on energy saving, the burden of high energy prices, the need for information on energy policy, and the assessment of the gas price cap. Respondents were selected by a multi-stage random sample in a multi-topic survey (Emnid-bus) including landline and mobile phone numbers (dual-frame sample).<br>Paying attention to energy saving now compared to before the war in Ukraine; lowering energy consumption in Germany necessary for a stable energy supply in the coming winter and to achieve the goal of no more than 1.5 degrees of global warming; companies or industry, citizens or both under obligation to lower energy consumption in Germany; government requirements for citizens to save energy and for companies or industry vs. their own decision; energy topics on which people would like more information from the German government (ensuring a secure energy supply in Germany, measures taken by the German government to save energy in Germany, tips on saving energy in the home, measures already taken by the German government to relieve citizens from rising energy prices, measures still planned by the German government to relieve citizens from rising energy prices); assessment of the measures taken so far by the German government to secure the energy supply in Germany and to relieve citizens from rising energy prices as sufficient; respondent has already received bills for additional payments or higher advance payments for electricity or heating costs; strength of the financial burden of these additional expenses; evaluation of the planned gas price cap (brings noticeable relief for consumers in Germany, costs the state too much money, is necessary to prevent companies from going bankrupt, is unfair because it gives German companies an advantage over other companies in the EU, further motivates people to save energy because it only applies to 80% of the previous year´s consumption, disadvantages those who have always been thrifty because it is based on the previous year´s consumption).

Demography: sex; age; highest level of education; occupation; household size; number of people in the household aged 14 and over; party preference; voter eligibility; household net income (grouped); survey by mobile or landline.

In addition, the following was coded: serial respondent number; weighting factor; interview date; city size (BIK city size, political city size); federal state; survey area west/east.