Heidelberg. Three years after the outbreak of the energy crisis, energy costs for private households in Germany are 41 percent higher than the pre-crisis level. Consumers currently have to spend around 1,500 euros more per year on electricity, heat and fuel than in 2021. This is shown by an evaluation by the comparison portal Verivox.
The energy costs for a model household in February 2024 are 5,306 euros per year. In February 2021, the same amount of energy cost 3,772 euros. This means that spending on energy has increased by 41 percent within three years. The household budget of a three-person model household is charged an additional 1,534 euros.
“Electricity, gas, heating oil and fuel: three years after the start of the energy crisis, energy is still significantly more expensive than before. Although costs have fallen by a third since their peak in October 2022, private households are still heavily burdened by high energy costs “, says Thorsten Storck, energy expert at Verivox.
Heating is 71 percent more expensive – fuel prices are 30 percent higher
Heating customers in particular are suffering from this development. Heating with oil became more expensive by 64 percent during the period under review. While 1,270 euros were due for 20 hectoliters of heating oil in February 2021, it is now 2,088 euros. There has also been a significant price increase for gas. Here the costs rose from 1,162 euros to 2,033 euros with a consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours. This corresponds to an increase of 75 percent. Since more households heat with gas than with heating oil, heating costs are currently 71 percent higher on a volume-weighted average.
The costs for gasoline (plus 27 percent) and diesel (plus 39 percent) are also significantly above pre-crisis levels. On a volume-weighted average, consumers have to spend 30 percent more on refueling.
Plus 22 percent in electricity prices
The average electricity costs of a private household with an annual consumption of 4,000 kWh rose from 1,171 euros to 1,425 euros within the three years after the crisis began. That’s an increase of 22 percent. The main reasons for the price increase are increased electricity network fees and higher procurement costs for suppliers.
“Although energy costs are well above pre-crisis levels, there has been lively competition in the market for months. New customer tariffs from electricity and gas providers have continued to fall sharply in recent weeks and are at a multi-year low. Households are currently able to noticeably reduce their energy costs again.” , explains Thorsten Storck.
methodology
The Verivox energy cost index shows the average development of energy prices for a German household. The costs for heating, electricity and mobility are taken into account on a volume-weighted basis. The base month of the energy cost index is January 2015. The basis is a three-person model household with an annual heat requirement of 20,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), an electricity consumption of 4,000 kWh and an annual mileage of 13,300 kilometers.