General information on power cuts and gas shortages
How can I prepare for a power cut or gas shortage?
Self-preparedness: Rescue and emergency services cannot help all companies, facilities or citizens at the same time in the event of a large-scale crisis. It is therefore advisable to take your own precautions. You can find out how to prepare for a power cut, gas shortage or other crisis situations on the Emergency preparedness page.
Power-dependent healthcare aids (dialysis or respiratory equipment, etc.): Many healthcare aids have an internal battery. It starts up if there is a power failure. The running time varies. Make sure that the batteries of your medical devices are always sufficiently charged. Procure spare or replacement batteries. You can obtain more information on this from the manufacturers of the devices. If possible, also purchase alternative solutions that work without electricity, such as a compressed oxygen cylinder for ventilation.
What should I do during a power cut or gas shortage?
Heating: Warm clothing and blankets can replace the heating for a while. If possible, choose a room to stay in and keep the doors closed to prevent the heat from escaping. Nevertheless, make sure you ventilate regularly. Especially if you use candles as an alternative light source, it is important to regularly renew the oxygen content in the room.
Light: Keep a supply of candles and flashlights to hand (e.g. crank flashlight, solar or LED lights) as well as spare bulbs, batteries, matches or lighters and candles. When using them, follow the manufacturer's instructions and do not leave naked flames unattended. There is a risk of fire.
Food: Small meals can be prepared on a camping stove. Use a garden or table barbecue powered by charcoal or gas. Do not barbecue indoors or in the house. There is a risk of suffocation.
Energy: Make sure that the batteries of computers, cell phones and telephones are charged. Solar-powered battery chargers also work in the event of a power cut.
Money: Remember to have enough cash in the house. ATMs will not work in the event of a power cut.
Radio: A battery-powered radio or the radio in your car will keep you up to date with information from the crisis team and power suppliers
Where can I find disaster control lighthouses?
Warming islands, disaster control lighthouses and care centers have different functions and uses. However, they have one thing in common: they are buildings and places that people should go to in the event of a crisis.
In Wiesbaden, disaster control lighthouses are the central point of contact in the event of a power or telecommunications failure. They provide help and up-to-date information on the situation. As soon as the lighthouses are ready for use, they are marked with a folding "disaster control lighthouse" signal and a flashing light.
Here are the addresses of the lighthouses in Wiesbaden (sorted by zip code). Alternatively, you can display the lighthouses on a map in the geoportal (opens in a new tab).
55246 Wiesbaden(Kostheim), Am Mainzer Weg 3
55252 Wiesbaden(Kastel), In der Witz 20
55252 Wiesbaden(Kastel), Rampenstraße 1
55252 Wiesbaden(Kastel) Kastel, Sankt Florian Straße 1
There have been no public shelters (air raid shelters) in Wiesbaden for decades, as in almost all German cities.
The security situation changed with the end of the Cold War. Today, experts assume a damage scenario with no warning time. For this reason, the federal and state governments decided in 2007 to no longer maintain public shelters. According to the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BKK), the situation had to be reassessed after the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022, which violated international law. This required an updated threat and risk analysis. Only on this basis could a decision be made on how to proceed.
Who is responsible for electricity and gas in Wiesbaden?
ESWE Versorgung (opens in a new tab), Stadtwerke Wiesbaden Netz (opens in a new tab) (sw netz) and Mainzer Netze (opens in a new tab) are primarily responsible for the supply of electricity and gas in Wiesbaden. On the respective websites, you can find information on the offers and answers to the following questions: What measures are planned for a gas shortage? Who, apart from private households, is a protected customer? The alert level from the gas emergency plan has been declared - what does this mean for me as a private customer?
How likely is a large-scale power outage in Wiesbaden?
A widespread and/or prolonged power outage in Wiesbaden is extremely unlikely. This is according to Stadtwerke Wiesbaden Netz GmbH (sw netz), Mainzer Netze GmbH and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK).
The power supply in Germany is provided via a widely ramified network. In 2021, Germans only had to do without electricity for 10.73 minutes. This is a peak value that is the envy of many other countries. In Hesse, the power outage times in 2021 were just over eight minutes, in the area of Stadtwerke Wiesbaden Netz GmbH (sw netz) even only 2.49 minutes, well below the national average.
