Many factors determine the price

 

The electricity tariff is not an arbitrary tariff that is stipulated by the power utilities. The electricity tariff is subject to different influencing factors.

 

41 percent of the electricity tariff in Germany consists of state taxes and levies.

 

This includes

• Electricity tax and value added tax
• Statutory levies for the promotion of renewable energy and combined heat and power
• Concession levy for towns and municipalities.

The state-induced portion for domestic customers has almost sextupled since 1998. Without this burden, the electricity tariff would be at the same level as before the liberalisation of the power markets. The power utilities thus receive less money for electricity today than just under ten years ago, although procurement costs have risen sharply.

 

59 percent of the electricity price for domestic customers is allotted to power procurement, that is to generating and purchasing as well as transporting and distributing the electricity.

 

For procurement, the wholesale prices are particularly important. They are formed at the power exchanges on the basis of offer and demand.

 

Decisive factors in this regard

• the power requirement
• the fuel prices
• the available power station capacities
• the weather
• the prices for CO₂-certificates
• the power quantities produced by wind energy.

The procurement costs for raw materials are in particularly rising rapidly. The worldwide growing energy requirement makes it necessary to develop new energy sources, which means increased effort and costs. At the same time, special efforts are necessary to be able to guarantee a secure energy supply for the future. Investments by the power utilities into upgrading, new buildings and innovative research projects are to offer solutions that are fit for the future.