31/10/2022
In the first half of 2022, average household electricity prices in the EU increased sharply compared with the same period in 2021, from EUR 22.0 per 100 kWh to reach EUR 25.3 per 100 kWh. Average gas prices also increased compared with the same period in 2021 from EUR 6.4 per 100 kWh to EUR 8.6 per 100 kWh in the first half of 2022. More recently, wholesale prices for electricity and gas have increased substantially across the EU. Energy and supply costs impacted by the current geopolitical situation, the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, mainly drove the increase.
Compared with a year ago, the weight of taxes and levies in the final electricity and gas bills charged to households in the EU in the first half of 2022 decreased significantly as Member States put in place governmental allowances and subsidies to mitigate high-energy costs. Compared with the first half of 2021, the share of taxes in the electricity bill dropped sharply from 39 % to 24 % (-15.5 %) and in the gas bill from 36 % to 27 % (-8.6 %).
This information comes from data on electricity and gas prices published recently by Eurostat. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained articles on electricity prices and natural gas prices.
Electricity prices increased in all Member States except five
Household electricity prices rose in 22 EU Member States in the first half of 2022, compared with the first half of 2021. The largest increase (expressed in national currencies) was registered in Czechia (+62%), ahead of Latvia (+59%) and Denmark (+57%).
Data indicates five decreases in household electricity prices among Member States: the Netherlands (-54 %), Slovenia (-16 %), Poland (-3 %), Portugal and Hungary (both -1 %). The drops in the Netherlands, Slovenia and Poland were connected to government subsidies and allowances, while in Hungary, prices are regulated.
Expressed in EUR , average household electricity prices in the first half of 2022 were lowest in the Netherlands (EUR 5.9 per 100 kWh), Hungary (EUR 9.5) and Bulgaria (EUR 10.9) and highest in Denmark (EUR 45.6), Belgium (EUR 33.8), Germany (EUR 32.8) and Italy (EUR 31.2).
Gas prices increased in nearly all EU Member States
Between the first half of 2021 and the first half of 2022, gas prices increased in 23 of the 24 EU Member States for which data are available. Gas prices surged the most in Estonia (+154 %), Lithuania (+110 %) and Bulgaria (+108 %), mainly driven by the cost of energy. There was only one Member State where natural gas prices for household consumers marginally fell in the same period: Hungary (-0.5 %), where prices are regulated.
Expressed in EUR, average household gas prices in the first half of 2022 were lowest in Hungary (EUR 2.9 per 100 kWh), Croatia (EUR 4.1) and Latvia (EUR 4.6) and highest in Sweden (EUR 22.2), Denmark (EUR 16.0) and the Netherlands (EUR 12.9).
For more information:
- Statistics Explained article on electricity prices
- Statistics Explained article on natural gas prices
Methodological notes:
- Cyprus, Malta and Finland do not report natural gas prices in the household sector.