Sharp Increase in Power Shutoffs Reported in Major Saxon Cities

Over 5,500 households in Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz faced electricity disconnections in 2024, prompting calls for legislative action.

The number of electricity shutoffs in Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz rose from 3,607 in 2023 to 5,531 in 2024, according to data from a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party.
In Leipzig, 70% of households affected by shutoffs experienced outages lasting up to two weeks, while in Dresden, most outages lasted about one week.
The Left Party has proposed a legal ban on electricity and gas disconnections, arguing that energy is a fundamental human right.
Their proposal includes a socially just tariff structure, a cost-free or low-cost energy allowance based on household size, and incentives for energy conservation to support climate goals.
The party also advocates for a social fund to address energy poverty, financed by energy companies and the government, with potential funding from CO2 tax revenues.