Stark differences in electricity consumption and cost amongst German states – analysis

Depending on federal state, German private households see differences of over a quarter in electricity consumption and costs, non-profit consultancy co2online found. While households in the southwestern state of Saarland are the most electricity-thirsty in the country with an average consumption of 1,440 kilowatt hours (kWh), per capita electricity consumption in mid-eastern Saxony is the lowest at 1,135 kWh – a 27 percent difference. co2online did not provide information on why consumption differed so much. Households in the city states of Berlin and Hamburg, as well as Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt are also amongst those with low national consumption, while those in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony consume the most. There are also “massive differences” in the annual electricity costs between the states, with households in Saarland paying 597 euros and those in Saxony 465 euros – a 28 percent difference. The costs were based on data from the Stromspiegel, an online tool that provides nationwide comparative values for the electricity consumption of private households and provides saving tips.

High prices due to the European energy crisis have been a burden to many households and companies, which the government has sought to alleviate through a so-called ‘defence shield’ worth 200 billion euros. A trend towards lower prices that set in around October 2022 nurtured hopes that much less money will be needed to keep energy costs at levels consumers can afford. However, observers warn that prices could remain high for the foreseeable future. Energy prices for German households dropped markedly in early 2023 but have remained at a high level overall since the start of the energy crisis, price comparison website Check24 found in an analysis of price developments for electricity, gas and transport fuels in February.