There is an emergency plan being executed and expedited to reduce total gas demand by 30%, which just happens to be the amount Europe imports.
With half of that 15% this winter.
Also, not all output is equal, not does all output have to be done at a fixed time. Heating homes has to be done during winter, but some factories can postpone production a few months to wait for more favourable circumstances.
Furthermore, it's only a reduction in a few energy sources that are required, with gas being the most important. Other sources could be used to compensate to an extent. We're seeing some gas power plants moving back to coal for example. Not great for carbon emissions, but it has more and more flexible sources.
Sounds trivial, but keeping 25m long indoor pool 23-24 degrees in the winter takes a lot of energy.
It would suck for people who had gotten used to them being open again after the Covid years, but wouldn’t have much negative economic impact.
The goal is not to permanently ration. The goal is to get through the winter, so there’s time for the longer term fixes to be put in place.
(I'm actually a little surprised just _how_ un-aggressive the plans generally are.)