Jose Maria Casais, 69, who is suffering from flu, uses an oxygen nebuliser as he sits on a wheelchair inside his house, in Barcelona, Spain, December 22, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce    SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.  TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, takes a medication while suffering from flu as he uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine connected to electricity to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 11, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, sits in a wheelchair inside his house, next to his portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine which is connected to electricity for up to 24 hours a day, in Barcelona, Spain, December 9, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, sits on his bed before sleeping, as he uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 11, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, reacts as he reads messages of concern over his wellbeing in a WhatsApp group of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, after he hadn't been online for a few days while suffering from a bad case of flu, inside his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. He uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine, which is connected to electricity for up to 24 hours a day, to breathe. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, pushes the wheelchair of his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, who is using a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, as they cross the road in Barcelona, Spain, December 9, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, pushes his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, on a wheelchair as they buy food at a supermarket, as Casais uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 8, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. Casais has already altered his diet to cut costs. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, breathes using a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine, which is connected to electricity up to 24 hours a day, as he watches a TV news program about the cost of electricity in Europew while sitting on a wheelchair in his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 9, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, uses a device to turn the heating up during a bout of flu, as he sits on a wheelchair in his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 8, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. He uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, which can be connected to electricity for to to 24 hours a day. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, helps his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, get into his bed, in Barcelona, Spain December 21, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, uses eyedrops for his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, as Casais uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine connected to electricity to breathe, in Casais's bedroom in Barcelona, Spain, December 11, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

An imprint of a nasal cannula is seen on the face of Jose Maria Casais, 69, who uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, while he is helped by his carer Alvaro, 40, to dress in his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. Many electricity-dependent Spaniards are facing some stark choices, said Nicole Hass, a spokesperson for the Spanish Association for Patients with COPD (APEPOC). 'With this rise in electricity prices they have to decide between eating and breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Herbert, 32, a caregiver, shaves his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, who uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine connected to electricity to breathe, in front of a picture of Casais's parents on the wall, inside his house in Barcelona, Spain, January 4, 2023. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. Many electricity-dependent Spaniards are facing some stark choices, said Nicole Hass, a spokesperson for the Spanish Association for Patients with COPD (APEPOC), 'With this rise in electricity prices they have to decide between eating and breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, talks with doctors over the phone about his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, who has the flu and uses nasal cannula to connect to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, in Casais's house in Barcelona, Spain, December 22, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, looks at a photo of himself (standing on the right) with friends at a party in Barcelona's Gracia neighbourhood taken ahead of his compulsory military service in his late teens, as he uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine connected to electricity to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 13, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, and his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, talk while cooking in the kitchen, as Casais uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Antonela, 11, the niece of Jose Maria Casais's caregiver Alvaro, wishes a merry Christmas to Casais, 69, who uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, while Casais sits in a wheelchair in his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 22, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, talks with the Spanish Association for Patients with COPD (APEPOC) spokesperson Nicole Hass over a video call, as he sits on a wheelchair in his house in Barcelona, Spain, January 5, 2023. Many electricity-dependent Spaniards are facing some stark choices, said Nicole Hass, a spokesperson for APEPOC, 'With this rise in electricity prices they have to decide between eating and breathing.' Casais, who has a form of COPD, breathes using a nasal cannula connecting to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine, which uses electricity for up to 24 hours a day. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A medical oxygen cylinder, for usage in case of a power outage, stands next to the wardrobe of Jose Maria Casais, 69, who uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, who has the flu, rests in his bed before trying to sleep, as he uses a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine connected to electricity to breathe, in Barcelona, Spain, December 12, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, uses an oxygen nebuliser in his bedroom in Barcelona, Spain, December 11, 2022. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. 'If the weather suddenly changes from good to a rainy day you feel terrible' he said. 'The cold affects your breathing.' REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A photograph of Jose Maria Casais, then aged 35, alongside photographs of his mother, Teresa Naveira Varela, and brother, Emilio, are displayed in his living room, in Barcelona, Spain, December 9, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, helps to dress his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, who uses a nasal cannula connected to a portable oxygen concentrator respiratory machine to breathe, in Casais's house in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, as he and his caregiver Alvaro, 40, travel by bus to his house in Barcelona, Spain, January 5, 2023. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Alvaro, 40, a caregiver, pushes the wheelchair of his client Jose Maria Casais, 69, who uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, as he gives a sandwich to Enrique, who is a homeless, on a street near Casais's house in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, talks with bar worker Gloria while having coffee, as he uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, in a bar in Barcelona, Spain, December 14, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe, while sitting on a wheelchair in a park next to his house in Barcelona, Spain, December 9, 2022. Casais, a retired engineer, says he is being forced to raid his savings every month after his energy bills soared because of his reliance on the oxygen machine to alleviate his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For the past two years, Casais has been plugged into the oxygen concentrator for up to 24 hours a day. His electricity bill has almost tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he says, triggering an energy crisis in Europe because of its dependence on Russian gas. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

Jose Maria Casais, 69, uses a portable oxygen concentrator backpack with a battery to breathe as he sits at Barceloneta beach, in Barcelona, Spain, January 5, 2023. Casais has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. REUTERS/Nacho Doce SEARCH "DOCE ENERGY CRISIS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.