Less frugal
Germans are turning up the heating again
January 12, 2024, 2:29 p.m
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Continue to be economical or turn up the volume? This winter, many people are increasingly choosing the latter when it comes to heating. Although gas prices have now fallen significantly, they are still at a relatively high level. It will continue to be expensive for many consumers.
Germans are turning their heating thermostats higher again than last year. The consumption of heating energy from September to December was nine percent higher than in the same period last year, as the billing service provider Ista announced. The company evaluates the consumption data of around 350,000 households every month and compares it with data from the German Weather Service – thus creating a weather-adjusted consumption.
For example, according to Ista, December was 13 percent significantly milder than December 2022 – but consumers only saved 7 percent on heating energy. However, adjusted for weather conditions, the analysis showed consumption was seven percent higher. According to Ista, in October this adjusted consumption was 4 percent higher than the same month last year, and in November it was even 18 percent higher.
Gas prices had already risen sharply at the end of 2021 before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and they exploded after the attack in February 2022. It only became cheaper again towards the end of the year. Today, however, a kilowatt hour of gas is still significantly more expensive for new customers at around 8 cents than, for example, at the beginning of 2021 (around 4.5 cents).
Ista boss warns consumers
Ista boss Hagen Lessing warns: “Most consumers still have to expect higher heating costs than last year.” For many people, however, heating costs are hardly transparent, he criticizes: “Most people do not receive regular, current consumption data during the heating period. Clarity about the actual costs is usually only available long after the end of the heating period with the annual consumption bill.”
Consumers with remotely readable heat cost allocators have been entitled to monthly consumption information since 2022, emphasized Ista. But many people don’t know anything about it.