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Heating to zero?
Low-income households are suffering from the crisis
Photo: Arno Burgi / dpa
The skyrocketing energy prices are the biggest burden on low-income households.
They proportionally spend the most on electricity, heating and hot water.
This is announced by the Federal Statistical Office.
Households with a monthly net income of less than 1,300 euros spent 9.5 percent of their consumer spending on energy for the home in 2020.
That was an average of 95 euros.
In terms of income, this is more than twice as much as households in the highest income bracket paid: Households with a monthly net income of at least 5,000 euros spent around 4.7 percent of their consumer spending on residential energy, with an average of 206 euros.
Price increases averaging 34 percent
This discrepancy is likely to have worsened in the meantime: in 2020, heating oil, gas and electricity were comparatively cheap. In the meantime, prices have been rising significantly for months. According to the comparison portal Verivox, energy has increased in price by 35 percent within a year. "Never before have private households had to pay so much for heating, electricity and fuel," said Verivox. According to Check24, more than 900 gas suppliers have implemented or announced price increases averaging around 34 percent in the basic supply.
The federal government plans to partially cushion the effects of these price increases: Those who receive housing benefit should receive a one-off grant.
According to a bill by the new housing ministry, people living alone should receive 135 euros, a two-person household 175 euros.
For each additional roommate a further 35 euros are provided.
"This should keep living and heating affordable and cover the additional costs from the cold winter months," says a key issues paper from the ministry.
The lump sum is part of the housing benefit paid to low-income households.
A total of around 710,000 households should benefit from the one-time grant.
Hartz IV households are missing over 30 percent
According to analyzes of the comparison portals, the situation is particularly difficult for recipients of Hartz-IV. The standard rates had increased in 2022 - but only minimally: Single adults therefore receive three euros more than before, i.e. 449 euros a month. Of this, a calculated 36.44 euros are earmarked for electricity costs. According to Verivox, a single Hartz IV household currently has to pay 139 euros per year or almost 32 percent more for energy than the share of electricity costs covers. An average household therefore needs around 48 euros a month. In households in which water is also heated with electricity - for example with a flow heater - the costs rise again.
The comparison platform Check24 had published similar calculations.
There, the electricity cost gap is put at a slightly lower 136 euros per year or just under 30 percent.
jlk / dpa
