An employee monitors for gas leaks at the Uniper SE Bierwang Natural Gas Storage Facility in Muhldorf, Germany. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg German power prices rose to a record as utilities are increasingly reducing electricity output in western Europe because of the hot weather. The next-year contract in Europe’s biggest market rose as much as 2% after Switzerland’s Axpo Holding AG announced curbs at one of its nuclear plants. Electricite de France SA is also reducing nuclear output because of cooling water restrictions, while Uniper SE in Germany is struggling to get enough coal up the river Rhine. Europe is suffering its worst energy crunch in decades as gas cuts made by Russia in retaliation for sanctions drive a surge in prices. The extreme heat led to the driest July on record in France and is underscoring the impact that a warming climate is having on vital infrastructure. Water levels […]