Energiekosten: Millionen Haushalte können Strom und Gas nicht bezahlen
Viele Menschen geraten bei Strom- und Gasrechnungen in Zahlungsverzug. Das Preisniveau bleibt hoch und die Energiekosten sind nicht die einzige finanzielle Herausforderung für Privathaushalte.
Millions of German households are struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills, with around 3.8 million people living in households that were in arrears with their energy providers in 2025, according to the Statistisches Bundesamt. This represents 4.6 percent of the population, slightly lower than the previous year's 5.0 percent.
Renters were more likely to miss payments compared to those with homeownership. Prices for household energy fell slightly in August 2026, with consumers in Germany paying 0.7 percent less than a year earlier. In August 2026, electricity prices dropped by 5.5 percent, gas including operational costs fell by 2.9 percent, and district heating decreased by 1.0 percent.
However, heating oil prices were nearly 50 percent higher compared to August 2025. Energy prices remain on a relatively high level, following significant increases in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Household expenses related to housing, such as water supply, waste collection, and building maintenance, also increased above average levels in August 2026, rising by 3.1 percent compared to the previous year.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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