Gas Prices for New Customers in Germany Rise Sharply in a Year, Data Shows
A recent analysis by the price comparison portal Verivox has revealed that gas prices for new customers in Germany have increased significantly over the past year. According to the data, gas prices for households in new contracts have risen by around 3 cents per kilowatt-hour, a 43% increase.
For a typical household with a annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt-hours, the average price for a cheap gas tariff with a 12-month price guarantee was around 7 cents per kilowatt-hour in early February 2024. The current cheapest offer in the national average is around 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to Verivox. This means that the model household now has to pay around 600 euros more per year, the calculation shows.
Several factors have contributed to the sharp price increase, according to the price comparison portal. One major reason is the return to the full value-added tax of 19% on natural gas, which has been in effect since April 2024. This alone has led to a price increase of around 11%, Verivox states.
In addition, a range of fixed costs have increased at the turn of the year, including a 21% rise in average gas network fees, which would result in an additional 98 euros (gross) for an average single-family home with an annual consumption of 20,000 kWh. The gas storage levy has also increased by 20%, equivalent to an additional 12 euros (gross) in the Verivox calculation. Furthermore, the CO2 price has risen from 45 euros to 55 euros per ton in 2025, resulting in an additional 43 euros (gross) in costs.
Wholesale gas prices have almost doubled over the past 12 months, with the average spot market price rising from around 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in February 2024 to over 5 cents per kilowatt-hour currently. Verivox experts describe the gas market as “very volatile”, citing stronger-than-usual draws on gas storage and political uncertainties as reasons for the price increases. The recent cold spell has led to a rapid depletion of Germany’s gas storage, the fastest in four years, according to the latest figures.
Experts do not foresee a rapid decline in gas prices, with no signals of long-term decreases in wholesale gas prices and therefore, gas offers for households are likely to continue rising rather than falling, according to Thorsten Storck, an energy expert at Verivox, in an interview with the newspapers.