Dhe gas prices for private households rose by an average of 17.7 percent in the first half of 2022. Consumers paid an average of 8.04 cents per kilowatt hour for natural gas, as the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Monday. Electricity cost an average of 33.5 cents per kilowatt hour, 1.9 percent more than in the second half of 2021.
The rise in electricity prices for private households was therefore small, despite the sharp rise in energy and distribution costs. “The reduction in the EEG surcharge in particular had a price-dampening effect,” the Federal Office explained. The tax burden on electricity prices fell by an average of 15.4 percent.
In contrast, “non-households”, i.e. primarily companies and authorities, had to pay an average of 19.3 percent more for electricity. Large consumers were more affected than smaller consumers. For example, companies with large electricity consumption previously paid less EEG surcharge and therefore did not benefit as much from the reduction.
In the case of gas, too, the price increase for private consumers was significantly lower than for companies and authorities because they usually have shorter contract periods. On average, non-household customers paid 38.9 percent more for gas than in the second half of 2021.
