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Data extracted in April 2025.

Planned article update: October 2025.

Highlights

Year-on-year household gas prices in the second half of 2024 increased in 6 EU countries, while they decreased in 14 EU countries.

Year-on-year non-household gas prices in the second half of 2024 decreased in 21 EU countries, while they increased in 2. The decrease ranged from -1.9% to -25.1%.

Household gas prices in the EU were highest in Sweden (€0.1893 per KWh) and lowest in Hungary (€0.0320 per KWh) in the second half of 2024.


Line chart showing development of natural gas prices for household consumers as euros per kWh in the EU. Two lines represent prices including taxes and prices excluding taxes, over the period S1 2008 to S2 2024.
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)


This article highlights the development of natural gas prices for household and non-household consumers within the European Union (EU); it also includes price data from Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, when available.

The price of energy in the EU depends on a range of different supply and demand conditions, including the geopolitical situation, the national energy mix, import diversification, network costs, environmental protection costs, severe weather conditions, and levels of excise and taxation. Note that prices presented in this article include taxes, levies and VAT for household consumers but exclude refundable taxes and levies and VAT for non-household consumers.


Natural gas prices for household consumers

Highest gas prices in Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy

For household consumers in the EU (defined for the purpose of this article as medium-sized consumers with an annual consumption between 20 Gigajoules (GJ) and 200 (GJ), natural gas prices in the second half of 2024 were highest in Sweden (€0.1893 per Kilowatt hour (KWh)), the Netherlands (€0.1671 per KWh) and Italy (€0.1586 per KWh). They were lowest in Hungary (€0.0320 per KWh), Croatia (€0.0460 per KWh) and Romania (€0.0540 per KWh) (see Figure 1). The price of natural gas for households in Sweden was more than 6 times the price charged in Hungary and 54% higher than the EU average price (€0.1233 per KWh).

Stacked vertical bar chart showing natural gas prices for household consumers as euros per kWh in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia. Each country column has three stacks representing without taxes, other taxes and VAT for the second half of 2024.
Figure 1: Natural gas prices for household consumers, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)

The average natural gas price for household consumers in the EU, calculated as a weighted average using the most recent consumption data from 2023 and prices from the second half of 2024, was €0.1233 per KWh.

Figure 2 presents the development of natural gas prices for household consumers in the EU since the first half of 2008. Generally, these prices are higher in the second half of each year. This is due to the seasonal effect and reflected in the zig-zag shape of the lines in Figure 2. However, the recent substantial price changes attenuated this phenomenon, since the first half of 2022. Overall, in the EU, there was an upward trend in natural gas total prices in the first half of each year, from a low of €0.0562 per KWh in the first half of 2010 to a local peak of €0.0692 per KWh in the first half of 2013. Then, the price decreased until 2017, rose in 2018, and dropped again in 2020. Prices including taxes showed a sharp increase from the second half of 2021 to the first half of 2023. In the second half of 2023, the price of natural gas for household consumers decreased to €0.1125 per KWh, from €0.1137 per KWh the year before, after an all-time high in the first half of 2023 (€0.1186 per KWh). In the first half of 2024 the price recorded a further drop, falling to €0.1104 per KWh. In the second half of 2024, the price surged to €0.1233 per KWh, marking the highest level recorded since the beginning of this data collection.

The proportion of the taxes increased from 25% in the first half of 2008 to 36% in the first half of 2021 and then decreased to 13.8% in the second half of 2022, reflecting the subsidies and allowances measures taken from the countries to alleviate the burden of high energy prices. In the first half of 2024, the proportion of taxes increased to 27%, and in the second half of 2024 to 30%, indicating the reduction of the measures and the restoration of the corresponding tax to levels approaching those prior to the sharp price increase. The evolution of gas prices for households excluding taxes peaked in the second half of 2022 (€0.0980 per KWh). After this point, prices showed consecutive declines, falling to €0.0802 per kWh in the first half of 2024 and rising again in the second half to €0.0867 per KWh, — a price 2.7% lower than the same period one year earlier (€0.0891 per KWh) and 8.1% higher than the first half of the year.

Line chart showing development of natural gas prices for household consumers as euros per kWh in the EU. Two lines represent prices including taxes and prices excluding taxes, and vertical bars representing taxes, over the period S1 2008 to S2 2024.
Figure 2: Development of natural gas prices for household consumers, EU, 2008-2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)

Weight of taxes and levies differs greatly between EU countries

Figure 3 shows the proportion of taxes and levies in the overall natural gas retail price for household consumers. The relative tax contribution in the second half of 2024 was the lowest in Luxembourg, where subsidies and allowances led to negative figures (-12.7%). The highest proportion of taxes was observed in the Netherlands, where total taxes and levies corresponded to 53.1% of the final price. In Denmark this percentage was 46.7%. The VAT in the EU represented 15.7% of the total price. The share of VAT in the total price ranged from 4.8% in Croatia to 21.3% in Hungary. Compared with the first half of 2024, the share of taxes increased by 2.3 percentage points (pp), from 27.4% to 29.7%, also increased compared with second half of 2023 (20.8%) by 8.9 percentage points (pp). These changes relate to the governmental allowances and subsidies to mitigate high-energy costs in the second half of 2022, reduced in 2023 and in 2024, but are also a consequence of the overall changes in the price of the energy and supply and the network components.

Stacked vertical bar chart showing percentage share of taxes and levies paid by household consumers for natural gas in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia. Each country column has two stacks representing share of other taxes and levies and share of VAT for the second half of 2024.
Figure 3: Share of taxes and levies paid by household consumers for natural gas, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)

Higher increase in gas prices for household consumers in Italy, France and the Netherlands

Figure 4 shows the change in natural gas prices for household consumers including all taxes, levies and VAT from the second half of 2023 to the second half of 2024. For comparison purposes, the national currencies were used. These prices increased during the period under consideration in 6 of the 23 EU countries for which data are available, while they were relatively stable in 3 EU countries and decreased in 14 (Cyprus, Malta and Finland do not report natural gas prices in the household sector and for Poland data are confidential in the second half of 2024). The largest increases were observed in Italy (17.7%), France (13.7%) and the Netherlands (11.4%). The largest decreases were reported by Lithuania (-59.0%), Austria (-22.1%) and Slovenia (-17.9%). The cost of energy and network was the main driver of the price changes.

Horizontal bar chart showing percentage change in natural gas prices for household consumers compared with the previous year same semester in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia for the second half of 2024.
Figure 4: Change in natural gas prices for household consumers compared with previous year's same semester, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)

Gas prices in purchasing power standard

In Map 1, gas prices for household consumers in the second half of 2024 are shown in purchasing power standard (PPS) grouping the available countries in 6 categories, with gas price categories ranging from above 16 PPS per 100 KWh to below 7 PPSS per 100 KWh. The final burden for the consumers is calculated based on their own consumption. The gas prices per 100KWh, expressed in purchasing power standard were highest in Portugal (16.6 PPS), Italy (16.5 PPS) and Sweden (16.1 PPS). The lowest gas prices based on the PPS were observed in Hungary (4.7 PPS), Luxembourg (5.6 PPS) and Croatia(6.7 PPS).

Map showing gas prices for household consumers as PPS per 100 kWh in the EU and surrounding countries for the second half of 2024. Each country is classified based on a range of PPS.
Map 1: Gas prices for household consumers, second semester of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_202)


Natural gas prices for non-household consumers

Gas prices for non-household consumers highest in Sweden and Finland

For non-household consumers in the EU (defined for the purpose of this article as medium-sized consumers with an annual consumption between 10 000 GJ and 100 000 GJ), natural gas prices in the second half of 2024 were highest in Sweden (€0.1091 per KWh), where they were 75% above the EU average, followed by Finland (€0.0913 per KWh) and Slovakia (€0.0720 per KWh). Sweden and Finland have very little natural gas consumption. The lowest prices were recorded in Bulgaria (€0.0431 per KWh) and Lithuania (€0.0477 per KWh) (see Figure 5).

The EU average price — a weighted average using the most recent (year 2023) data for natural gas consumption by non-household consumers — was €0.0624 per KWh.

Stacked vertical bar chart showing euros per kWh natural gas prices for non-household consumers in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia. Each country column has two stacks representing prices excluding taxes and non-recoverable taxes for the second half of 2024.
Figure 5: Natural gas prices for non-household consumers, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_203)

Figure 6 shows the development of natural gas prices for non-household consumers in the EU since the first half of 2008. These prices for non-household consumers do not display the seasonal effect observed for household consumers (see Figure 2). 4 peaks are observed in the natural gas total price for non-household consumers since the data collection started. The first peak is observed in the second half of 2008. After falling to €0.031 per KWh in the second half of 2009, the price increased each half year peaking at €0.042 per KWh in the first half of 2013. Then, it decreased every semester, reaching a low of €0.029 in the second half of 2017. After this point, we observe an increase until the first half of 2019, followed by a decrease until the first half of 2021. From the second half of 2021 the price recorded increases reaching €0.0818 per KWh in the first half of 2023. In the second half of 2023 a decrease was observed for the price including non-recoverable taxes, which dropped to €0.0689 per KWh. In the first half of 2024, the price continued to drop, falling to €0.0616 per kWh and in the second half of the year prices recorded a slight increase, figuring at €0.0624 per kWh. The price excluding taxes, in the second half of 2024, was €0.0541 per KWh, showing a small +2.1% increase, compared with the first semester of the year (€0.0530 per kWh) and a decrease of -14.3%, compared with the same semester of the previous year (€0.0631 per kWh).

The weight of all the taxes increased from around 7.1% in 2008 to around 21% in the first half of 2021 and then dropped to 7.5% in the second half of 2022. After this time point, tax increased raised the proportion to 14% in the first half of 2024 and slightly dropped to 13.3% in the second half of 2024.

Line chart showing development of natural gas prices for non-household consumers as euros per kWh in the EU. Two lines represent prices including taxes and prices excluding taxes, and vertical bars representing taxes, over the period S1 2008 to S2 2024.
Figure 6: Development of natural gas prices for non-household consumers, EU, 2008-2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_203)

Figure 7 presents the proportion of taxes and levies in the total natural gas price that non-household consumers cannot recover. For non-household consumers, the share of these non-recoverable taxes in the second half of 2024 was 44.3% in the Netherlands, 31.3% in Sweden and 24.6% in Finland. Croatia (1.3%), Romania (1.5%) and Slovakia (1.7%) found themselves at the other end of the spectrum, registering the lowest shares of taxes.

Vertical bar chart showing percentage share of taxes and levies paid by non-household consumers for natural gas in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia for the second half of 2024.
Figure 7: Share of taxes and levies paid by non-household consumers for natural gas, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_203)

Development of gas prices for non-household consumers

Figure 8 shows the change in natural gas prices for non-household consumers including all non-recoverable taxes and levies from the second half of 2023 to the second half of 2024. For comparison purposes, the national currencies were used. These prices decreased in all but 3 of the 24 EU countries, that reported data (Cyprus and Malta do not report natural gas prices in the non-household sector and Poland data are confidential). Increases were reported by Denmark (10.9%) and Estonia (7.0%). The decreases ranged from -25.1% in Slovakia, to -1.9% in the Netherlands.

Horizontal bar chart showing percentage change in natural gas prices for non-household consumers compared with the previous year same semester in the EU, euro area, individual EU Member States, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Georgia for the second half of 2024.
Figure 8: Change in natural gas prices for non-household consumers compared with previous year's same semester, second half of 2024
Source: Eurostat (nrg_pc_203)

Source data for tables and figures (MS Excel)

Data sources

Defining household consumers

Throughout this article, references to household consumers relate to the medium standard household consumption band with an annual consumption of natural gas (only piped gas is considered) between 5 555 KWh and 55 555 KWh (20 GJ and 200 GJ). All figures are consumer retail prices and include taxes, levies and VAT. Cyprus, Malta and Finland do not report natural gas prices in the household sector. The full datasets for gas prices for households consumers are available at:

and

Defining non-household consumers

Throughout this article, references to non-household consumers relate to the medium standard non-household consumption band with an annual consumption of natural gas between 2 778 GWh and 27 778 GWh (10 000 GJ and 100 000 GJ). Prices correspond to the basic price for natural gas, including all non-recoverable taxes and levies. Cyprus and Malta do not report natural gas prices in the non-household sector. Quantities of natural gas used for chemical processes or electricity and/or combined heat and power production are excluded from these data. The full datasets for gas prices for non-households consumers are available at:

and

Methodology

Prices in national currencies are converted into euro using the average exchange rate of the period for which the prices were reported.

Prices are always compared with the prices of the same semesters (i.e. year on year) in order to avoid seasonal effects.

In 2016, Regulation (EU) No 2016/1952 entered into force. It defines the obligation for the collection and dissemination of natural gas prices for household and non-household consumers. Until 2016, the domain of non-household consumers was defined as industrial consumers, but reporting authorities were allowed to include other non-household consumers. With Regulation (EU) No 2016/1952, the definition was changed from industrial to non-household consumers to have a unique methodology for all reporting countries. Until January 2017, the reporting authorities provided their price data for the household sector on a voluntary basis.

Natural gas tariffs or price schemes vary from one supplier to another. They may result from negotiated contracts, especially for large non-household consumers. For smaller consumers, they are generally set according to a number of characteristics including the amount of natural gas consumed. Most tariffs also include some form of fixed charge. There is, therefore, no single price for natural gas. In order to compare prices over time and between EU Member States, this article shows information for consumption bands for household consumers and for non-household consumers. Natural gas prices for household consumers are divided into three annual consumption bands and, for non-household consumers, into six different consumption bands.

The prices collected cover average prices over a period of 6 months (a half-year or semester) from January to June (first semester) and from July to December (second semester) of each year. Prices include the basic price of natural gas, transmission and distribution charges, metre rental, and other services. Natural gas prices for household consumers presented in this article include taxes, levies, non-tax levies, fees and value added tax (VAT) as this generally reflects the total price paid by household consumers. As non-household consumers are usually able to recover VAT and some other taxes, prices for non-household consumers are shown without VAT and other recoverable taxes/levies/fees. The unit for natural gas prices is that of euro per kilowatt hour (€ per KWh).

Methodological note: In Sweden, from the first semester of 2024, gas prices are calculated using weighted averages of gas grids and are differently impacted by network costs. This cost is fixed, leading to a higher cost per unit for low consumption and a lower cost per unit for high consumption. This is reflected in the data as a (b): Break in time series.

Allowances in the reference period 2024 Semester 2

  • Belgium
With regard to household consumption of electricity and gas, in Belgium, the lower TVA rate of 6% introduced by the Government in 2023, remained at the same level for S1 2024.
  • Czechia
All price compensations were ended by 31 December 2023. There is no price compensation for the year 2024.
  • Denmark
There are no subsidies affecting the prices in 2024. For previous semesters, there were measures in first semester 2023 the electricity tax (for households) were reduced to the lowest possible, lowering the final prices with about DKK 0.70 (plus VAT) per kWh comparing with the semester before and also after. This affected fully the households with low annual use (DA, DB, DC), while users in DB and DE already payed less taxes per KWh caused by expected use for heating. In 2022 there was a special compensation for high energy/heating prices, paid out as a lump sum. This mainly affected household users of natural gas. The compensation reduced prices with DKK 83 per GJ.
  • Germany
Gas:
The value-added tax (VAT) was temporarily reduced to 7% in October 2022 as a measure to relieve consumers. This temporary reduction on the supply of natural gas ended on March 31, 2024. Since then, the VAT rate has returned to 19% for both household and non-household consumers.
  • Ireland
Electricity:
Household Prices: Due to the increases in energy prices from 2022, Ireland has introduced measures to alleviate the burden on final consumers. Domestic electricity customers, including pay as you go customers, have so far received €1500 worth of credits on their electricity cost, spread over their bills as follows: April/May 2022: €200, November/December 2022: €200, January/February 2023: €200, March/April 2023: €200, December 2023: €150, January 2024: €150, March 2024: €150, November/December 2024: €125, January/February 2025: €125. A further measure to tackle rising energy costs has been introduced in the way of a cut in VAT on gas and electricity bills from 13.5% to 9% from 1 May 2022. This VAT reduction has now been extended to October 2025.
Non-Household Prices: The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced in the second half of 2022 to support non-domestic customers with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. The scheme was administered by Ireland Revenue and provided a cash payment to qualifying non-domestic customers. As it was not administered by electricity suppliers, TBESS rebates are not accounted for in the prices. The time limit for making a claim for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) expired on 30 September 2023.
Gas:
Household Prices: To tackle rising energy costs, VAT on gas and electricity bills has been cut from 13.5% to 9% from 1 May 2022. This VAT reduction has now been extended to October 2025.
Non-Household Prices: The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS)[1] was introduced in the second half of 2022 to support non-domestic customers with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. The scheme was administered by Ireland Revenue and provided a cash payment to qualifying non-domestic customers. As it was not administered by electricity suppliers, TBESS rebates are not accounted for in the prices. The time limit for making a claim for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) expired on 30 September 2023.
  • Greece
Support measures regarding electricity 2024:
i.For household customers there was a financial allowance,on the electricity bill, for those who used electricity for heating purposes during the period from January up to March. However, not all consumers were eligible, as certain conditions had to be met. Furthermore, for August, September and December specific measures were applied regarding consumers with non fixed, per kWh, price contract.
ii. For non household customers support measures were in force only for the first semester 2024. A specific category of energy-intensive non household consumers, who met certain criteria, received a compensation. However, although it concerned only the first semester it also affected the prices of the second one as it was paid retrospectively.
Natural gas 2024:
In the case of the consumption of natural gas, there is no price compensation for the year 2024.
  • France
Gas:
- Allowances: period 2024 S1 and S2
- The standard rate of excise duty on gas will rise from €8.37/MWh to €16.37/MWh on January 1, 2024. Reduced rates are unchanged.
- In 2024, collective housing will continue to benefit from bill payment assistance to cope with rising gas prices. The French government will cover 75% of the difference between the price actually paid and the reference price of €72.8/MWh, for contracts signed before June 30, 2023.
Electricity:
- Allowances: period 2024 S1 and S2
- Most of the measures taken to reduce energy costs in 2022 and 2023 are no longer in force.
- Electricity excise duty for households has been raised from €1/MWh to €21/MWh, and €20.5/MWh for businesses with a contract power of less than 250 kVA, on February 1, 2024.
- The rate freeze on regulated electricity sales tariffs, eligible for household and small businesses, has been lifted.
- However, measures to limit the cost of electricity to €280/MWh for very small businesses remain in force in 2024.
- Small and medium-sized businesses continue to benefit from the electricity buffer, which covers up to 75% of the bill when the price exceeds €250/MWh, up to a limit of €2.25 million in cumulative aid over 2023 and 2024.
- Medium-sized energy-intensive companies benefit from a targeted aid window that covers 75% of their bill above €300/MWh.
  • Croatia
Gas:
- VAT remains at 5%
- Decision on subsidizing part of the final price of gas supply:
- Support for households - from April 1 to September 30, 2024 subsidies for households were not accounted because the purchase price of gas was lower than 0,0277 EUR/kWh, which is prescribed by the Government Decision as the lowest amount of the purchase price up to which the final price is not subsidized. In the period from October 1 to December 31, 2024 subsidies for households amounted 0,0090 EUR/kWh in average, according to the Government Decision on subsidizing part of the final price of gas supply for households;
- Support for non-households, annual gas consumption of up to 10 GWh - after March 31, 2024 there were no more subsidies of the final price for non-households.
Electricity:
– In September 2024, the Government of the Republic of Croatia has adopted Regulation on amendments to the Regulation on eliminating disturbances on the domestic energy market which extended the application of special and temporary measures for electricity trade, for the period from October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Regulation prescribes the price cap on electricity producers price, regulated prices for households and non-households, mitigating the rise in electricity prices, limitation of the increase in fees for electricity. Additionally, social benefits for citizens at risk of energy poverty, support for pensioners with low pensions.
  • Spain
The Government of Spain has maintained the measures adopted during 2021 and reinforced them during 2022. The idea is to continue cushioning the impact of electricity prices on final consumers. These measures have focused on the "taxes, fees and charges" component, such as applying reduced rates to both VAT and the Special Electricity Tax, as well applying a new reduction in electricity charges applicable during 2023, comparing them with those of the previous year.
  • Cyprus
The only supportive measure for 2024 S1 in Cyprus both for households and part of commerce is "A percentage subsidy imposed by the Ministry of Finance on specific categories of consumers based on scaled consumption as from September 2022 to October 2024".
  • Latvia
Electricity prices:
In the 1st and 2nd half of 2024, households have discounts on the electricity distribution tariff, but non-households do not have discounts on the electricity distribution tariff.
Since 1P 2024, new distribution and transmission tariffs have come into effect for electricity in Latvia.
Natural gas prices:
In the 1st half of 2024, there is no discount on natural gas prices for households and non-households.
Since the 1st half of 2024, new distribution tariffs have come into effect for natural gas.
  • Lithuania
Electricity:
The State Energy Regulatory Council has set a zero price for public interest services (VIPS) for 2024. There are no longer any subsidies or allowances for the price of electricity in Lithuania.
  • Poland
Electricity:
As regards electricity prices in Poland, the support system from 2023 was extended, by the Act, for the first semester of 2024.
Measures for Gas:
For certain groups of eligible customers, the maximum price for gaseous fuel shall apply. This applies mainly households and the majority of public utilities (education, health care, social assistance and many others). The net fuel price (level 1 without energy's supply) for such customers is a maximum of 55.602(7) PLN/GJ. The maximum price of gas fuel for the indicated groups is to be valid until 30 June 2024.
  • Portugal
Support Measures for Electricity and Natural Gas in Portugal in 2024:
With the aim of protecting consumers from the effects of energy market volatility and ensuring fairer access to energy, the Portuguese Government has implemented and extended several measures in the electricity and natural gas sectors:
1. Extension of Regulated Tariffs:
The Government has extended the validity of regulated electricity and natural gas tariffs until 31 December 2025. This measure aims to protect household consumers from sharp price fluctuations.
2. Social Electricity Tariff:
The social electricity tariff remains in force, aimed at economically vulnerable consumers. This support provides a reduction applied on network access tariffs.
3. Reduction of VAT Rate on Electricity:
The reduced VAT rate on electricity has been maintained and extended to cover a larger number of families, as established by Law No. 38/2024, published in August 2024.
The 6% reduced rate is now applied to electricity consumption of up to 200 kWh per month for contracts with a contracted power of up to 6.9 kVA.
For large families (households with five or more members), the limit is increased to 300 kWh per month.
Consumption above these thresholds remains subject to the standard VAT rate of 23%.
4. Social Natural Gas Tariff:
The social natural gas tariff has been maintained for economically vulnerable consumers on low-pressure networks, applied to network access tariffs.
5. Return to the Regulated Natural Gas Market:
Consumers still have the option to return to the regulated natural gas market, where tariffs are set by the National Regulator (ERSE).
6. Reduction of Electricity Network Access Tariffs:
The reduction in electricity network access tariffs has also been maintained, helping to contain the final prices paid by consumers.
  • Romania
According to the national law requirements (Government Emergency Ordinance no. 27/2022 regarding the measures applicable to final customers on the electricity and natural gas market in the period April 1, 2022-March 31, 2023 with subsequent amendments and additions, still in force during S2 2024), the electricity and gas prices (tariffs/taxes/VAT included - level 3) charged to final clients are capped, therefore, the final invoiced price/kWh (including VAT) for electricity cannot exceed one of the following values: 0.68 lei/kWh, 0.80 lei/kWh or 1.3 lei/kWh (VAT included), depending on type of client (household/non-household) and on consumption level.
For natural gas, the capped values of the final invoiced price/kWh (including VAT) are 0.31 lei/kWh - for household clients, respectively 0.37 lei/kWh - for non-household clients. These values are not dependent on consumption levels.
  • Slovenia
1. Electricity prices - measures
One of the first measures that has been in place since February 2022 is the amended Regulation on determining the amount of excise duty for electricity reduced the excise duty for final consumers of electricity for 50%:
- with an annual consumption of 0 to 10,000 MWh from EUR 3.05 per MWh to EUR 1.525 per MWh,
- with an annual consumption above 10,000 MWh from EUR 1.800 per MWh to EUR 0.900 per MWh.
With a government regulation the maximum permitted tariff items for the price of electricity for household customers and for the supply of electricity in common areas of multi-apartment buildings and mixed multi-apartment-commercial buildings, without VAT, amounted to:
- Higher tariff (VT): 0.11800 EUR/kWh
- Lower tariff (NT): 0.08200 EUR/kWh
- Uniform tariff (ET): 0.09800 EUR/kWh
from 1 January 2024 and 31 October 2024
- Higher tariff (VT): 0.08400 EUR/kWh
- Lower tariff (NT): 0.07000 EUR/kWh
- Uniform tariff (ET): 0.07700 EUR/kWh
from 1 November 2024 onwards (until 28 February 2025).
From 1 January 2024 and 31 October 2024 the electricity prices were regulated for 90% of the consumed electricity, while from 1 November 2024 onwards, the prices were regulated for 100% of the electricity consumption (i.e. total).
Regulation on the method of determining and calculating contributions for providing support for the production of electricity in cogeneration with high efficiency and from renewable energy sources was amended, which resulted in omitted contribution of RES+CHP for electricity consumers for households in 2024. RES+CHP contribution is reported under “environmental taxes” in Eurostat’s tables for electricity prices.
All other measures (i.e. subsidies for reducing electricity prices for industry in 2023) were discontinued on 1 January 2024.
Detailed explanations on all measures (electricity prices) in place for the period from 2022 onwards are available on Energy portal (only in Slovene): https://www.energetika-portal.si/podrocja/energetika/ukrepi-za-omilitev-draginje-na-podrocju-energetike/elektricna-energija/
  • Finland
Household electricity:
The Finnish government took several measures about energy cost compensations from 1 November 2022 to 30 April 2023. No more measures have been taken beyond this period.
Non-household electricity:
Excise duty refunds to energy-intensive companies are paid retroactively upon refund application. These refunds are not included in electricity costs.
These measures below were solely for household customers not non-household customers. Thus these should be removed from the non-household chapter "Allowances in the reference period 2023 Semester 1".
"The Finnish government has taken several measures around energy cost compensations. The time period affected is from 1 November 2022 to 30 April 2023. No more measures are planned beyond this period. Thus, the effect on electricity prices limit on periods S2/2022 and S1/2023. S2/2022 is final. S1/2023 includes the VAT reduction and retroactive electricity bill compensation (1 and 2), but not the compensation reducing taxation (3) or compensation paid as electricity cost support (4). These data is only available after taxation for 2023 is final.
(1) Value added tax of the electricity was reduced from 24% to 10% from 1 December 2022 until 30 April 2023.
(2) Retroactive electricity bill compensation if the VAT-inclusive electricity price in household's electricity contract exceeded 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or if the electricity contract was based on spot prices (so-called market price) in November and December 2022 and/or January 2023. The compensation for electricity costs was 50% of the VAT-inclusive price of the electricity bill. The compensation was not granted to the distribution rate or electricity tax. The compensation couldn't exceed €700 per month. The amount of the compensation was calculated based on the part of your electricity bill that exceeded the threshold of €90/month. The compensation was paid in 2 instalments. The amount of the instalments was calculated in 2 different ways: The amount of the first instalment was calculated based on your electricity bills for November and December. The amount of the second instalment was calculated based on your electricity bill for January 2023 and is multiplied by two. Additional measures took effect from 1 January 2023 until 30 April 2023.
(3) The compensation of the high electricity bills are part of the existing system of tax credit for household expenses. Electricity bill exceeding €2 000 until €6 000 during from 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022 will be compensated by 60% and reduces the amount of tax the customer has to pay.
(4) If no taxable income the compensation is made in the form of the electricity cost support. The 60% compensation will be paid by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland if the electricity bill will exceed €400 per month but not €1 500 per month from 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022. Natural gas prices are not compensated by any means."
Natural gas non-households:
Excise duty refunds to energy-intensive companies are paid retroactively upon refund application. These refunds are not included in natural gas costs.
  • Sweden
Following the compensation provided during 2021 and 2022, there were no support measures in 2023, nor in 2024 for gas or electricity regarding households.

Context

The price and reliability of energy supplies are key elements in a country's energy supply strategy. Natural gas prices are of particular importance for international competitiveness, as natural gas might represent a significant proportion of total energy costs for industrial and service-providing businesses. Contrary to the price of fossil fuels, which are usually traded on global markets with relatively uniform prices, natural gas prices vary widely among EU Member States.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Energy Emergency - preparing, purchasing and protecting the EU together, COM2022(553) final, coordinates solidarity efforts, secures the energy supply, stabilises price levels and support households and companies facing high energy prices.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Tackling rising energy prices: a toolbox for action and support, COM2021(0660) final, points out the observed increase of wholesale energy prices. It is expected that it will be reflected in the final consumer prices in the official statistics for this reference period. The energy prices evolution in the second half 2021 will be available as European official statistics level in April 2022.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, REPowerEU: Joint European Action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy, COM2022(108) final, paves the way to reach independence from Russian gas well before the end of the decade.

In 2019, the European Commission presented the Clean energy for all Europeans package. The Commission completed a comprehensive update of its energy policy framework to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy and to deliver on the EU's Paris Agreement commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Fit for 55 legislative proposals cover a wide range of policy areas including climate, energy, transport and taxation, setting out the ways in which the Commission will reach its updated 2030 target in real terms.

Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas aims to introduce common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas with the objectives of providing market access and enabling fair and non-discriminatory competition.

Regulation (EU) 2019/942 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. ACER, among others, assists the regulatory authorities in carrying out, at EU level, the regulatory tasks performed in the EU Member States.

Regulation (EU) No 2016/1952 tackles data weaknesses led to the recommendation to improve the detail, transparency and consistency of energy price data collection. An energy prices and costs report would be prepared every 2 years.

The 5th report on energy prices and costs was published in March 2024. It assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the recent evolution of energy prices; but it also focuses on EU policies and emergency measures aimed at dealing with the consequences of the 2 crises.

Increased transparency for gas and electricity prices should help promote fair competition, by encouraging consumers to choose between different energy sources (oil, coal, natural gas and renewable energy sources) and different suppliers. Energy price transparency is more effective when publishing and broadcasting as widely as possible prices and pricing systems.

Explore further

Other articles

Database
Energy Statistics - prices of natural gas and electricity (nrg_price)
Energy Statistics - natural gas and electricity prices (from 2007 onwards) (nrg_pc)
Energy Statistics - natural gas and electricity prices (until 2007) (nrg_pc_h)

Thematic section


Selected datasets
Energy Statistics - prices (t_nrg_price)
Gas prices by type of user (ten00118)

Methodology

External links

Visualisation
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