Energy costs
Gas for consumers 80 percent more expensive than before Ukraine War
Energy prices only rise slightly – but stay at a very high level. Who pays how much and what role the tax burden plays.
The energy prices for consumers are only increasing moderately-but measured at the level before the Ukraine War, the price jumps are immense. In the second half of 2024, private households in Germany paid an average of 12.28 cents per kilowatt hour of natural gas, as the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced. That was 3.5 percent more than in the first half of 2024 and 7.6 percent more than in the second half of 2023.
Measured on the second half of 2021, the comparison period before the Russian attack on Ukraine and the following energy crisis, gas prices for private households were almost 80 percent (79.8 percent) higher.
The comparison of electricity is less drastic. A kilowatt hour cost consumers an average of 41.2 cents in the second half of 2024. That was 0.4 percent more than in the first half of 2024 and 1.3 percent less than a year earlier. Compared to the period before the Russian attack on Ukraine, there is an increase of a good quarter (+25.3 percent).
Taxes and fees drive prices
Higher taxes and fees contributed to the increase in energy prices. The sales tax returned to the normal tax rate from April 2024 and the gass storage levy increased from July caused a price increase, the statisticians explained. The tax burden for private natural gas customers grew by a good third compared to the first half of 2024.
Private electricity customers paid an average of 2.4 percent less for energy and sales in the second half of 2024 than in the first half of 2024. However, higher network charges led to the somewhat increased total price for electricity.
Union and SPD have agreed on relief for the electricity price for companies and consumers in their exploratory talks. In this way, electricity tax and network charges should fall significantly.
Companies and authorities pay significantly less
On average, companies or authorities were more favorable than private households, the statistics show. In the second half of 2024, they paid an average of 6.35 cents per kilowatt hour for natural gas without VAT and other deductible taxes. For electricity, they last paid 20.55 cents per kilowatt hour without taxes. In both cases, this corresponds to about half of the price level for private consumers.
dpa
Source: Stern
