The Austrian government and E-Control—the country’s regulatory agency for gas and electricity—have announced a stage one alert with regard to the supply of natural gas as European countries rejected Moscow’s push for gas to be paid in rubles. Austria’s gas emergency plan has three levels. The first level is triggered if there are reliable indications that gas supplies could deteriorate while the second is activated when the gas supply actually deteriorates. In this scenario, the government will encourage industries to use alternative sources of power. The third level gets triggered when gas can no longer be supplied and current market demand cannot be met. In addition to encouraging the industry to adopt alternatives, the government will likely enact other energy control measures at this stage. “We will do everything to ensure the gas supply for Austria’s households and businesses. Deliveries are currently arriving reliably and without restrictions. That can of …