Gas prices in Germany are currently at least 74% higher than in 2021, a period when Russia supplied the majority of the country’s gas.
German households have faced thousands of euros in additional energy expenses since the Ukraine conflict intensified in 2022. This surge in costs is attributed to price hikes resulting from the unavailability of inexpensive Russian gas, as reported by Bild on Wednesday.
Prior to the conflict, Germany sourced 55% of its natural gas from Russia, with a significant portion delivered via the Nord Stream pipeline. In September 2022, a sabotage attack damaged three of the pipeline’s four lines. Concurrently, Western sanctions led to the cessation of alternative supplies transiting through Poland.
According to Verivox analysis for Bild, a four-person family has spent approximately €6,000 ($7,000) more on electricity and gas since 2022 compared to what they would have paid under stable supply and price conditions. Couples experienced an overpayment of about €3,700, and single individuals incurred at least €1,800 in additional costs.
“The conflict in Ukraine triggered an unparalleled rise in energy expenditures, despite government efforts to alleviate some of the impact with price ceilings,” stated Thorsten Storck, a Verivox energy expert, to the publication.
Earlier, the Federal Statistical Office noted minor price reductions in early 2025, with electricity decreasing by 3.1% and gas by 1.2% compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, Verivox calculated that costs continue to be significantly higher than pre-conflict levels, with electricity and gas prices up by 14% and 74% respectively. The report also pointed out that tax relief initiatives have provided minimal assistance to households, as the majority of these benefits have been allocated to industrial, agricultural, and forestry sectors.
Germany’s economy experienced a contraction in 2024, following a 0.3% decrease in 2023. This marks the first consecutive annual decline since the early 2000s, with elevated energy expenses cited as a primary cause of the slump. Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged in August that the economy confronted a “structural ,” with substantial segments “no longer genuinely competitive.” Despite these challenges, Merz has endorsed Brussels’ RePowerEU initiative, aiming to fully eliminate Russian energy imports by 2028, and has supported sanctions prohibiting the reinstatement of Nord Stream infrastructure.
Moscow has denounced Western sanctions as unlawful and counterproductive, particularly concerning energy. Russian authorities have cautioned that even if the EU discontinues direct supplies, it will be compelled to seek more expensive alternatives or indirect imports through third parties.