diff --git a/scripts/add_brownfield.py b/scripts/add_brownfield.py
index 43d03fbe..a0b8d97b 100644
--- a/scripts/add_brownfield.py
+++ b/scripts/add_brownfield.py
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             output=['pypsa-eur-sec/results/test/prenetworks_brownfield/{network}_s{simpl}_{clusters}_lv{lv}__{sector_opts}_{planning_horizons}.nc']
         )
         import yaml
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
     print(snakemake.input.network_p)
     logging.basicConfig(level=snakemake.config['logging_level'])
diff --git a/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py b/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
index 727037a1..5010e8e7 100644
--- a/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
+++ b/scripts/add_existing_baseyear.py
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             output=['pypsa-eur-sec/results/test/prenetworks_brownfield/{network}_s{simpl}_{clusters}_lv{lv}__{sector_opts}_{planning_horizons}.nc'],
         )
         import yaml
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
 
     logging.basicConfig(level=snakemake.config['logging_level'])
diff --git a/scripts/build_biomass_potentials.py b/scripts/build_biomass_potentials.py
index db478778..fc400360 100644
--- a/scripts/build_biomass_potentials.py
+++ b/scripts/build_biomass_potentials.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         snakemake.input['jrc_potentials'] = "data/biomass/JRC Biomass Potentials.xlsx"
         snakemake.output = Dict()
         snakemake.output['biomass_potentials'] = 'data/biomass_potentials.csv'
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
     build_biomass_potentials()
diff --git a/scripts/build_industrial_demand.py b/scripts/build_industrial_demand.py
index fce7b6ad..47efef45 100644
--- a/scripts/build_industrial_demand.py
+++ b/scripts/build_industrial_demand.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         snakemake.input['industrial_demand_per_country']="resources/industrial_demand_per_country.csv"
         snakemake.output = Dict()
         snakemake.output['industrial_demand'] = "resources/industrial_demand_elec_s_128.csv"
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
     build_industrial_demand()
diff --git a/scripts/make_summary.py b/scripts/make_summary.py
index d24064c2..2ef0285d 100644
--- a/scripts/make_summary.py
+++ b/scripts/make_summary.py
@@ -565,8 +565,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         from vresutils import Dict
         import yaml
         snakemake = Dict()
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
         #overwrite some options
         snakemake.config["run"] = "test"
diff --git a/scripts/plot_summary.py b/scripts/plot_summary.py
index caba5f18..79064690 100644
--- a/scripts/plot_summary.py
+++ b/scripts/plot_summary.py
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         from vresutils import Dict
         import yaml
         snakemake = Dict()
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
         snakemake.input = Dict()
         snakemake.output = Dict()
 
diff --git a/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py b/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
index bdddd2cf..dc8fcba6 100644
--- a/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
+++ b/scripts/prepare_sector_network.py
@@ -1700,8 +1700,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             output=['pypsa-eur-sec/results/test/prenetworks/{network}_s{simpl}_{clusters}_lv{lv}__{sector_opts}_{co2_budget_name}_{planning_horizons}.nc']
         )
         import yaml
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
 
 
     logging.basicConfig(level=snakemake.config['logging_level'])
diff --git a/scripts/solve_network.py b/scripts/solve_network.py
index 0e2eb17c..a7078433 100644
--- a/scripts/solve_network.py
+++ b/scripts/solve_network.py
@@ -378,8 +378,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                      python="logs/{network}_s{simpl}_{clusters}_lv{lv}_{sector_opts}_{co2_budget_name}_{planning_horizons}_python-test.log")
         )
         import yaml
-        with open('config.yaml') as f:
-            snakemake.config = yaml.load(f)
+        with open('config.yaml', encoding='utf8') as f:
+            snakemake.config = yaml.safe_load(f)
     tmpdir = snakemake.config['solving'].get('tmpdir')
     if tmpdir is not None:
         patch_pyomo_tmpdir(tmpdir)