Germany records a sharp rise in gas and electricity prices
Gas and electricity prices for consumers in Germany increased by an average of 46.6% and 18.6%, respectively, in 2021.
According to reports, at the beginning of the year, a family consuming 4,000 kWh of electricity annually paid 1,171 euros in annual form, and in December this figure was 1,386 euros. According to experts, prices are also expected to rise next year. Already 280 of Germany’s 800 regional electricity suppliers reported price increases in January-February, averaging 7.6%.
According to the media, gas prices also rose. So, at the beginning of this year, a household “with a consumption of 20 thousand kWh” paid 1162 euros on an annual basis, but in December this figure rose to 1704 euros (up 46.6% or 542 euros). So far, 515 of the 700 gas suppliers have announced a 23.1% price increase in the January-February period. In areas where the cost of natural gas has already risen, there are about 32 million households.
The reports also talk about various reasons for the high price. Among them – rising gas, coal and oil prices amid the recovery of the global economy, a cold winter in 2020.
