Energiekosten: Untersuchung: Netzentgelte für Strom und Gas steigen 2027

Private households can expect slightly rising electricity and gas network fees in the coming year, according to calculations by comparison portal Verivox based on data from energy transmission operators. However, there are significant regional differences. Network fees constitute about one quarter of the electricity price, and they have been increasing in recent years.

They finance the expensive expansion of power grids. For gas, network fees for household customers make up roughly one fifth of the price. Verivox expects overall rising prices for gas due to growing wholesale prices resulting from the Iran war. For electricity, the portal anticipates regional differences in price development. Depending on the region and tariff, significant price increases could occur.

Electricity network fees are projected to rise nationwide by an average of 1.9 percent after the new year. For a three-person household with an annual electricity consumption of 4,000 kilowatt-hours, this would translate into an additional cost of around 8 euros grossly. The reason for the rising network fees is the reduction of the annual federal subsidy to transmission network costs by almost 1 billion euros to 5.525 billion euros in 2027.

The fees charged by transmission operators are billed to the operators of lower voltage levels in the so-called distribution network and appear on electricity bills as network fees. Regional differences in network fees are substantial, according to Verivox. While electricity network fees in the old federal states are projected to rise by an average of 10 euros, they are projected to fall by an average of 3 euros in the new federal states.

Therefore, electricity network fees are set to rise most significantly in Hamburg. "How high the network fees will be depends also on the costs for the expansion and operation of the regional power grids," says Verivox energy expert Thorsten Storck. "From 2025, regions with particularly high wind and solar power generation will also be relieved."

Gas network fees are expected to increase by around 3 percent nationwide in 2027. For a family in a single-family house with a gas consumption of 20,000 kilowatt-hours, this would result in additional gross annual costs of around 19 euros. Similar to electricity, there are significant regional differences in gas network fees. They are projected to rise above average in Berlin, Hamburg, as well as Rhineland-Palatinate and Brandenburg.

In Saxony and Thuringia, they are expected to fall slightly. However, the increased wholesale prices since the start of the Iran war are mainly responsible for price pressure. Storck notes that the increase in gas network fees will have only a minor impact on home heating costs in Germany compared to the skyrocketing wholesale prices.

"We expect comprehensive price hikes in the new year in which the gas distributors pass on the higher procurement costs to their customers. They will range between 10 and 20 percent depending on the current tariff."