European household electricity bills jumped 20% in the second half of 2022, while gas bills rose 46%, Le Figaro reports, citing Eurostat data. At the same time, the statistical service points to significant differences between the EU countries: Eastern Europe, which was heavily dependent on Russian energy resources, suffered the most from rising prices.

European households’ electricity bills jumped 20% year-on-year in the second half of 2022, while gas bills surged 46% to a record high due to the conflict in Ukraine, Le Figaro reports, citing recently released data from Eurostat. Between July and December 2022, household electricity prices averaged €28.4 per 100 kWh across the European Union, up 21% from the same period in 2021, the EU statistical office said.

Such a rise in price was the result of a sharp increase in wholesale electricity prices, which are actually tied to the cost of production at a gas-fired power plant. However, natural gas prices rose sharply after Russia in retaliation cut off energy supplies to Europe.

At the same time, Eurostat points out significant differences between countries, as well as the difference in the impact of support measures taken by national governments. 

Thus, the share of taxes on electricity prices in Europe was almost halved. In the second half of the year, the largest price increases for the year were recorded in Romania (+112%), the Czech Republic (+97%), Denmark (+70%), Lithuania (+65%) and Latvia (+59%). Conversely, much more moderate growth was recorded in Austria, Germany, Poland and Bulgaria (4-5%). The increase in electricity prices in France amounted to 9%. And in Malta, household bills even went down, thanks to government price controls. The same happened in the Netherlands, where consumers were helped, in particular, through tax cuts.

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