Many people in Germany are currently afraid of the letter from the gas supplier announcing the price increase. If this gas price increase then comes for the second time in a year, the shock is even greater. In fact, EnBW’s customers were still doing quite well when it came to basic services. But that will end on December 1, 2022. The energy supplier has announced a second price adjustment.
EnBW increases gas prices in the basic supply
In July 2022, EnBW had already increased the gas prices in the basic supply once this year. Due to the persistently high procurement costs for gas, EnBW has to increase prices again on December 1, 2022. The prices now fixed for gas in the basic supply then already correspond to the reduced VAT from 19 to 7 percent and the gas surcharge is no longer included, which was actually supposed to take effect but was then overturned for the gas price brake. From December 1st, EnBW customers will pay 13.54 cents per kWh. This corresponds to an increase of 38 percent (Source: EnBW).
For a household that consumes 20,000 kWh per year, this means additional costs of 64 euros per month or 768 euros per year. The price only applies to regular customers who have already had basic service. Different, significantly higher prices apply to new customers. EnBW is currently calling for 42.23 cents per kWh there. According to EnBW, other gas prices that are not part of the basic supply should also rise by 38 percent. This then applies to everyone who has a separate tariff. Despite the price increase, EnBW is still in the lower mid-market when it comes to gas prices for regular customers in the basic supply.
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Gas price brake will not come until 2023
A commission of experts has suggested that a two-stage gas price brake should be introduced. In December, the entire discount is to be taken over once. From March or April 2023, the gas price brake should take effect with a price of 12 cents per kWh. The relief for EnBW customers would therefore be limited and would be 1.54 cents per kWh. That would still be 308 euros for a household with an annual consumption of 20,000 kWh. In addition, people would be protected from further price increases. Gas prices could continue to rise. The federal government must now decide whether the gas brake will come about.