RIA "Novosti" in the article under the heading "The Swiss will be imprisoned for overheating houses in winter" reports :
“Swisses who keep their homes above 19 degrees this winter, violating government directives due to gas shortages, face fines and up to three years in prison,” Markus Spurndli, spokesman for the economics department, told Blick on Tuesday.
“Violations of a country's supply law are always offenses or even crimes and should be prosecuted by cantons by default,” he explained.
According to the newspaper, in case of deliberate violation of the orders, a prison term is threatened. In other cases, the case may reach a fine.
Earlier, the Swiss authorities said that if there is a shortage of gas in buildings heated with this type of fuel, the temperature in the room should not exceed 19 degrees, hot water can only be heated up to 60 degrees, and the use of heaters or hot air tents will be banned. Saunas and pools should be turned off."
In fact, the publication of the Swiss tabloid Blick , to which the agency refers, says this:
“If there is a shortage of gas in the winter, the federal government is ready to take tough measures. In buildings with gas heating, interior spaces can be heated up to a maximum of 19°C. Hot water temperature should not exceed 60°. Use of gas radiators < appears to be outdoor air heating appliances that are often found on open-air restaurant verandas. – The Insider > and heated tents will be prohibited. Saunas and pools will need to remain cold.
And worst of all, those who break the rules face jail time or a fine. In the case of intentional acts, imprisonment for up to three years is possible. Even in the event of an unintentional violation of the measures, a fine of up to 180 daily rates is possible < the daily rate is from 30 to 3000 francs, depending on the economic circumstances of the perpetrator. — The Insider >. This is provided for by the federal law on national economic support. <…>
“Violations of the National Economic Security Act are always offenses or in some cases even criminal offenses and must be prosecuted by the cantonal authorities,” explains Markus Spoerndli, spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. Therefore, the law “does not provide grounds for imposing administrative fines”. <…>
Someone who sets the thermostat wrong by mistake will get off easier than someone who deliberately heats their pool to 25°. The punishment for a company deliberately exceeding its gas quota is likely to be even more severe. <…>
However, there should not be a wide hunt for "energy sinners". “We are not a police state,” Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said at a press conference last Wednesday. “The police will not go to everyone, but there may be random checks.” <…>
“The draft regulations are primarily based on the fact that the vast majority of the population abides by the law,” emphasizes Spoerndli.”
In other words, there is no danger of imprisonment for the Swiss, who will heat their homes too much. They can only be fined. But the inhabitants of the country will still have to make some sacrifices: in the winter, in case of a shortage of gas, they will lose their heated restaurant verandas, as well as those saunas and swimming pools that are heated using gas boilers (there were no reports about saving other types of fuel).
As for the temperature standards for residential buildings, the Swiss restrictions cannot be called too strict. For comparison, according to Russian standards, the air temperature in residential premises should not be lower than 18 ° (in regions with a cold climate – 20 °, but in Switzerland the climate is quite mild, except for the almost uninhabited highlands), and at night it is permissible to reduce it by another 4 °, and hot water – not lower than the same 60 °. So in the worst case, the Swiss will have to live in approximately the same temperature conditions in which millions of Russians live in winter, or use additional electric heaters.
