Citizens across Europe are facing huge bills for their energy consumption. Electricity and heating prices are hitting record highs, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
At home, the energy company Seas-NVE is warning consumers about "a winter half-year with extraordinarily high prices on the Danish electricity market". It is a combination of several things that have caused prices in Europe to rise significantly over the past 12 months, says Lars Aagaard, CEO of the Danish Energy Association.
The economy has picked up, so we are using more energy. It has rained less in Norway than usual, so we are getting less hydropower from there. And a reform of the European CO2 quota system has made it more expensive to pollute.
- And on top of that, we are seeing significantly rising gas prices in Europe. And all of this means that electricity has become significantly more expensive - about 2.5 times more expensive than 12 months ago.
- And the price of gas has exploded. We are at something that looks like about six times more expensive than 12 months ago. So it is a very dramatic development, he says.
Prices on the agenda in the EU
Energy prices have taken the agenda in the EU this week, where several member states have expressed concern about the rising prices at a meeting. Spain, among others, has called on the EU Commission to reconsider the way in which electricity is sold on the European market.
It is not immediately on the drawing board, but Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has subsequently announced that the EU Commission will offer guidance to countries in relation to handling the rising prices. According to Lars Aagaard, it is difficult to do anything about the higher prices now and then. But in the long term, it will lower prices if more solar and wind energy is available.
However, consumers can have an influence themselves.
- We can all, as consumers, consider whether we can use a little less energy. That will work the fastest. Get the teenagers to turn off the lights in their rooms.
- And we can maybe stop having 23 degrees in our house, but only 21. That would be the first piece of advice, says Lars Aagaard.
Ritzau
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