The Federal Network Agency indicated that consumers should not rule out higher gas bills. Although most private households are initially covered by price guarantees for twelve months or longer, high prices could increase when existing connection contracts are renewed. However, according to agency head Klaus Müller, any such increases would not reach the dimensions seen following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Müller noted that the current situation is fortunately incomparable to that of five years ago, and while advising caution, he stressed that gas remains a valuable commodity, recommending that prudent usage practices should continue.
The outlook for electricity prices, conversely, is trending downwards and appears cheaper. Müller explained that this decline is largely due to a significant proportion of low-cost renewable energy sources, which he noted also has seasonal components. Regarding so-called negative electricity prices-which occur when more power is generated than is needed-Müller expressed openness to regulatory interventions. He stated that this phenomenon highlights the need to develop methods to mitigate negative pricing, potentially through expanded energy storage or by replacing current feed-in tariffs with a system involving the direct marketing of renewable electricity on the exchange.