Electricity prices in Germany: Consumers continue to pay record prices!

Electricity prices in Germany: Consumers continue to pay record prices!

Energy prices in Germany remain a central topic that affects both consumers and companies. Throughout the Federal Republic, the costs of electricity for households will be expected to remain high over the next two decades. In particular, private households are still faced with a financial burden that is noticeable in a European comparison.

High electricity prices for consumers

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, led by Robert Habeck (Greens), the average electricity price for household customers will be between 37 and 42 cents per kilowatt hour over the next 20 years. For future new customers, prices will be around 40 cents per kWh in 2024. Tariff options outside of basic supply currently offer an average price of 25.57 cents per kWh. This trend indicates rising costs, which are caused, among other things, by rising network charges. These network charges are necessary for the maintenance and expansion of the electricity infrastructure in Germany, which is significantly expanded in the course of the energy transition.

electricity prices in European comparison

In European comparison, Germany has been showing a kind of leadership position in electricity prices for over a decade, often at the top of the ranking. The argument that the current prices are mainly influenced by the nuclear phase -out is not sufficiently proven. Statistics from Eurostat show that Germany had the second highest electricity prices within the EU in 2013, first Denmark and then Germany dominated the list. In a further step, 2019, Germany took over for the first time and held this position until 2022.

However, the situation in 2023 changed: Germany fell to fourth place, overtaken by Belgium, Liechtenstein and the Netherlands, which now have the most expensive electricity prices in Europe. The average EU price is 29 cents per kWh, while in countries such as Northern Macedonia and Hungary households only pay 10 cents per kWh.

electricity prices for industry

The situation for industry, on the other hand, is somewhat more differentiated. Although companies in Germany criticize the high electricity prices, these are comparatively not at the top in the EU ratio. Nikthaushalt customers in Germany pay an average of 19 cents per kWh in Germany, which is slightly below the EU average of almost 20 cents per kWh. It is particularly worth mentioning that prices in China and the USA are significantly cheaper in international comparison - only eight cents per kWh are estimated there.

The German economy is therefore not only facing high energy costs in the national, but also in the European context. The comparison shows that electricity prices have been perceived as particularly high for consumers in Germany for years. Another increase in network charges is also expected for 2025, which will increase the financial burden on households.

The information on the electricity prices in Germany give the reason for further discussions about the future orientation of energy policy and the effects on consumers and the economy. In view of this dynamic, it is crucial to keep an eye on the development, especially with regard to the ongoing reforms and strategies to ensure sustainable and affordable energy supply. Further details can be found in a comprehensive report on www.merkur.de .