We have energy shortage right now, because a lot of nuclear power plants, especially the French, are powered down for lack of heating. This is why Germany has so far produced an extra 20TWh hours of electricity this year, also compensating for the nuclear power plants down for maintenance.
There is no shortage of electricity in Germany and energy is not rationed.
However, due to the need of filling gas stores till the winter, the government strongly campaigns on saving energy, especially any use of gas. There might be rationing of gas, if Germany fails to refill the gas storage (they are at over 70% right now) and if Russia cuts its delivery entirely. That doesn't mean there is a shortage of electricity.
In case the GP is unaware of the magnitude of the problem, this article says that already in April exactly half (28) of French nuclear plants were offline for maintenance. Likely the situation hasn't improved with the summer heat wave, since the plants all need water cooling.
A lot of plants had to be reduced in power output and are running only because of special allowances to heat the river water hotter than normally allowed. Meanwhile rivers like the Rhine and the Loire are at record low levels, in many places you can walk large parts of the river bed leaving only a narrow par where there is water. Shipping on the Rhine might have to be stopped in a week or so.
The government is advising against walking in the river beds, as people might step on WW2 ammunition which had not exploded.
Germany gas consumption is 90 per year. Storage capacity is 24. It seems that some people think that full storage is what they need to survive the winter. That's not entirely correct. Storage is required to smooth short-time issues. You still need enough supply even with full storage to survive the winter.
That is correct. But having the storage filled to the maximum is the best we can do in preparation because... we can't fit more than 100% into the storage :)
That is the one preparation goal, to enter storage at maximum levels.
In parallel, all options for other sources are evaluated. Towards the end of the year, a temporary LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven should become operational and contribute to the gas imports. Furthermore, there will be gas imports via other European countries. Norway and the Netherlands are producers themselves. France also has pledged some support as they are currently quite depending on German electricity.
There is also some reason to assume Russia isn't completely stopping gas delivery to Germany. They need the money, the don't want to damage their own infrastructure, which could be the result of stopping gas export entirely for a longer time span. Finally, if they stop gas export entirely, it is unlikely that Germany ever would consider buying Russian gas again.
Yes, that is definitely one goal of his, as well as in general to find out, how much Germany would yield under his pressure. So far Germany hasn't, quite contrary, the population in larger parts is in favor of delivering weapons to Ukraine as well as rearming the Bundeswehr.
He really should be considerate whether he wants to cut off Germany from gas supplies.
There is no shortage of electricity in Germany and energy is not rationed.
However, due to the need of filling gas stores till the winter, the government strongly campaigns on saving energy, especially any use of gas. There might be rationing of gas, if Germany fails to refill the gas storage (they are at over 70% right now) and if Russia cuts its delivery entirely. That doesn't mean there is a shortage of electricity.