Gas up 82 percent, electricity up 44.5 percent: the energy crisis is affecting households

Created: 06/09/2022 05:36

By: Patricia Huber

After the gas surcharge was announced, consumers are now faced with the next nasty surprise.

444 basic suppliers will soon increase gas prices - sometimes drastically.

Munich/Berlin – A number of consumers are threatened with a heating cost shock in the coming winter.

Now comes the next bad news for millions of consumers.

444 basic suppliers nationwide have announced price increases for October.

And this despite the fact that the gas price was only increased in more than 1,000 cases in the winter of last year.

Gas crisis: increase costs households an average of 1262 euros more

Around two million households are affected, as the comparison portal Check24 has now announced.

On average, the increases are 81.7 percent compared to the first quarter of this year (as of Friday, September 2nd).

For a model household with a consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), this means additional costs of around 1262 euros per year.

The reasons for the increased prices are the high wholesale prices in view of the delivery difficulties from Russia.

Therefore, traders resort to other gas sources – at higher prices.

Gas levy comes on top of rising prices

But raising prices is not enough for consumers.

Then there is the gas surcharge, which increases the costs.

The controversial surcharge is intended to compensate for the sharp rise in costs for large importers due to the shortage of Russian gas supplies.

The aim is to prevent bankruptcies and a collapse of the energy system.

All gas customers should pay an additional 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour from October.

After a lot of criticism, however, Economics Minister Robert Habeck announced that he would review the levy again.

In addition, the electricity price, which is dependent on the gas price, is also rising steeply.

According to Check24, basic suppliers have already announced increases in 149 cases for September and October.

Around 2.2 million households are affected by these price increases.

On average, according to the portal, prices will increase by 44.5 percent.