Household energy costs in Germany experienced fluctuating trends during the first half of 2025, according to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
Private households paid an average of 12.13 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for natural gas, representing a slight decrease of 1.2 percent compared to the second half of 2024. However, prices remain elevated compared to pre-crisis levels, standing 77.6 percent higher than the second half of 2021. Electricity costs averaged 39.92 cents per kWh for households, down 3.1 percent from the second half of 2024 and 21.4 percent above the levels observed in the second half of 2021.
The burden of taxes, levies and charges related to energy increased for all private natural gas customers, rising 5.8 percent compared to the second half of 2024. This increase stems from adjustments including a higher gas storage levy and the CO2 tax. Overall energy and distribution costs for private households, however, saw a decrease of 9.2 percent compared to the previous six-month period.
Similar patterns were observed for electricity, with a 7.2 percent increase in taxes, levies and charges for households. However, the average cost of electricity and distribution fell by 9.7 percent compared to the second half of 2024, resulting in a lower overall electricity price for consumers.
Businesses and other non-household consumers paid an average of 6.75 cents per kWh for natural gas, a 6.3 percent increase compared to the second half of 2024 and 11.8 percent higher than the first half of 2024. Prices remain 45.8 percent above the levels recorded in the second half of 2021.
Natural gas prices for non-household consumers varied considerably based on annual consumption. Those with a relatively low annual consumption (1,000 – 10,000 Gigajoules) experienced a slight decrease, paying 8.59 cents per kWh – still 93.0 percent higher than the second half of 2021. For extremely high consumption (over 4 million Gigajoules), natural gas priced at 5.30 cents per kWh, representing an increase of 17.5 percent compared to the second half of 2024, although still 6.7 percent below the corresponding period in 2021.
Electricity prices for businesses averaged 19.33 cents per kWh, a decrease of 5.9 percent from the second half of 2024, but 16.1 percent higher than levels in the second half of 2021. Consumption tiers also demonstrated differing price trends, with costs ranging from 26.36 cents to 13.38 cents per kWh depending on consumer size.