Europeans, How Is the Energy Crisis Affecting You?

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in the early spring, many people in Western Europe have watched their energy bills climb to dizzying, alarming highs. The increases have spilled over into the wider economy, inflating the cost of other essentials like food and transportation. For many, the cost of just eating and keeping warm has become prohibitive, and it has become a very cold, very dark, very expensive winter.

We’d like to hear from our readers in Europe about how you’re coping.

Some governments have announced financial assistance for households and businesses. And there are things that individuals can do to use less energy, like turning down thermostats and taking shorter showers. For some people, those changes might even feel positive — more environmentally friendly habits that can continue when and if prices return to more manageable levels.

But not everyone can adjust. The higher prices have been especially hard for people who live with chronic health conditions or who rely on medical equipment at home, or for people who live in rental properties where they don’t control the energy use.

Times Opinion would like to know more about how readers in Europe are managing the effects of rising energy costs this winter: What sacrifices are you making to get by? Are you turning down the heating, or turning off the lights? Are you cooking meals differently? Has it changed how you use your home? And how long can you keep it up?

Tell us your story in the form below. We’ll publish a selection of responses in a future article.

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