Amid a burgeoning energy crisis in Europe, Switzerland is planning to crack down on citizens who do not comply with new rules enforced to regulate gas use this winter.
People who violate the new regulations could face fines or even jail time of up to three years, according to a report by the Swiss daily Blick.
Under Switzerland’s new rules, temperatures in buildings with gas heating systems can be raised to a maximum of 19 degrees Celsius and water can be heated up to 60 degrees Celsius.
Radiant heaters are prohibited, while saunas and swimming pools must remain cold.
These are part of the measures stated in the Federal Law on National Economic Supply, to which the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (EAER) explicitly refers in an official document, the report said.
Markus Sporndli, a spokesman for the Federal Department of Finance, told Blick that the daily rate for fines could be at least 30 Swiss Francs ($30) and a maximum of 3,000 Swiss Francs.