Gas tax will burden German households with several hundred euros more per year
From October 1, importers can charge 2.4 cents more per kilowatt hour

Annual gas bills for German households will rise by several hundred euros as a result of the energy crisis, according to data released on Monday, but the government has promised to cushion the shock to low-income earners. From October 1, importers will be able to charge 2.4 cents more per kilowatt hour (KWh) of gas from companies and individuals, the network operator organization Trading Hub Europe (THE) announced on Monday.
In concrete terms and including VAT, 2.4 cents per KWh means 600 euros more on the annual bill of a family with two children and an average consumption of 20,000 KWh. Without taxes, the total is 480 euros. Berlin has promised to "find a way" to exempt this additional levy from VAT, according to the Economics Ministry.
The levy was introduced by the government until April 1, 2024 to support gas importers and distributors who have had to buy more expensively on the world market since the war in Ukraine and the drop in Russian supplies. It should be recalculated every three months. "The aim is to ensure gas supply after the German and European energy crisis triggered by the Russian attack on Ukraine," the ministry said.
In recent months, Germany has made increased efforts to find alternative sources of supply. Before the war in Ukraine, more than half of the imported gas came from Russia. That proportion has since fallen to 35%. "Germany has developed a business model that was largely based on dependence on cheap Russian gas," Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck recalled at a press conference. "It was a political mistake to make oneself dependent on a potentate (...) who disregards human and civil rights," he stressed.
In order to cushion the shock, the levy must and will be "accompanied by a new aid package," promised Robert Habeck. Germany has already provided aid totaling 30 billion euros to relieve private individuals, including discounts at the gas pump or the popular 9-euro ticket, which allows you to travel on local public transport and regional trains for a month. However, the measure expires at the end of August.
Berlin is also planning a billion-dollar injection for Uniper, Germany's largest gas importer and storage company, which has been hit hard by the drop in Russian gas supplies since mid-June. Conversely, the RWE Group announced that it would waive its right to pass on the price increase through this surcharge.
According to the Kiel Economic Institute, the effects of the additional levy on gas bills on the already high inflation in Europe's largest economy are expected to increase by up to 0.9 percentage points by the end of the year. The Chemical Industry Association (VCI), a major gas consumer, estimated the annual additional costs of the levy at over 3 billion euros and described it as a "bitter pill" for the industry.





