Domestic households and businesses will face a sharp increase in energy costs next year. The additional costs resulting from higher network costs for electricity and gas, higher electricity and natural gas taxes and the increase in CO₂ pricing and the revival of the suspended subsidy for renewable energy will increase by approximately half, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry warns. calls for a freeze on energy taxes.
“For an energy-intensive operation we have 59 percent additional costs compared to 2024, for a smaller operation 44 percent. For many companies this is overwhelming,” says Jürgen Streitner, head of the environmental and energy policy department at the Chamber of Commerce. A “large part” of this additional burden ends up on network costs, but in the industry it is mainly the natural gas tax that will come into full force again from January 1.
Already high market prices
“You have to remember: we also have relatively high market prices, especially in the gas sector,” Streitner explains. “In March we were at 25 euros per megawatt hour, at the beginning of November we were at 38 euros and now we are at 48 euros – so the price has risen by 26 percent.”
In view of these developments, the Chamber of Commerce calls for short-term relief for companies. Above all, electricity and natural gas taxes, which have been reduced to the EU minimum, should be extended for at least a year. The further requirements: Suspension of the renewable energy subsidy payment and the subsidy contribution in accordance with the Renewable Energy Expansion Act for 2025 and freezing of the CO₂ pricing to the value for 2024 (45 euros).
“Increase the pressure on Germany”
Once again, the German gas storage tax is also being discussed. The levy is a surcharge on the gas price that was introduced as part of the energy crisis. Germany wants to use the levy to cover the costs of gas storage. The levy was initially introduced at 59 cents per megawatt hour in 2022 due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences for the energy market. The surcharge already amounts to 2.50 euros per megawatt hour.
“This border surcharge for transit amounts to 6 to 7 percent of the gas price, depending on the level of the natural gas price. “The pressure on Germany must therefore be increased so that a decision is actually made to end the gas storage tax, which is contrary to EU law,” Streitner emphasizes.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
