The Local Germany

German electricity prices 'among the highest in the world'

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:27:18 +0200

In Germany, electricity is now more expensive than most other countries in the world, new research has found.

German Advent word of the day: Der Lichterglanz

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 08:22:23 +0100

German has a handy word to describe the glow of lights, especially around Christmas.

Call to prevent power cuts in poorest German households

Tue, 14 May 2019 12:30:07 +0200

More than 340,000 electricity customers across Germany have their power cut off each year for failing to pay bills. A new proposal from one political party aims to change this.

Friday meeting may spell end to coal-powered energy in Germany

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:25:56 +0100

Friday’s Federal Coal Commission meeting in Berlin is set to decide upon the future of Germany’s energy generation.

Over 300,000 poverty-hit German homes have power cut off each year

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 12:46:48 +0100

Each year between 2011 and 2015, electricity providers cut off power to at least 300,000 German households who could no longer afford to pay their bills, the government revealed on Thursday.

Electricity bills in Germany - how to keep your costs down

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 13:39:31 +0100

Hundreds of German electricity providers have announced that they are raising prices starting on January 1st. But you can avoid it - and you'll probably save a lot of cash in the process.

Why your electricity bill is about to jump up at New Year

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:30:51 +0100

Renewable energy subsidies and infrastructure costs will mean millions of Germans will be paying more for their electricity next year.

Sweden's Vattenfall starts German sales

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:47:00 +0200

UPDATED: All of the energy company's brown coal sites in Germany are set to go on sale as the Swedish state-owned firm moves to focus on renewable energy.

Power price drop isn't all good news

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 11:53:00 +0100

Power companies will drop their prices from January 2015 for the first time in over a decade, saving families up to €35 a year – but is it 'too little, too late'?

Energy bosses reveal 800km power link route

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:26:00 +0100

Plans to build Germany's longest power grid link, stretching 800 kilometres from north to south through the heart of the country, were unveiled on Wednesday. Protests and challenges are expected along the route.

Brown coal muddies green energy goals

Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:25:00 +0100

Despite solemn pledges to switch over to clean energy, brown coal is booming in Germany. Environmentalists warn it is endangering the country's record as a leader on climate issues.

Slight energy price rise at start of 2014

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 09:49:00 +0100

Energy prices will not leap at the start of the new year as they did this time last year, as lower prices, thanks to wind and solar power and fracking in the US, filter down to customers.

Merkel: I'll fight probe on energy subsidies

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 18:27:00 +0100

Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday she would fight against moves by the European Commission to probe German help for large companies amid its shift to green energy.

Bid to run Berlin's energy on green principles fails

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 10:43:00 +0100

A campaign in Berlin to buy the city's energy network and run it independently from the capital's government failed by a whisker to get enough votes in a referendum on Sunday.

Green energy costs to spark bill rise

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:06:00 +0200

The cost for consumers of supporting renewable energy could jump by up 20 percent over the next year leading to increases in electricity bills, it emerged on Monday.

EU 'could revoke' green German energy rules

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:28:00 +0200

Germany could face a probe into whether it has breached EU competition rules by letting consumers partly foot the bill as it switches to renewable energy, Der Spiegel reported on Sunday.

Germany pulls plug on solar subsidies

Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:35:00 +0200

Germany will stop subsidizing solar energy by 2018 at the latest, its environment minister said on Monday after last year initiating a scaling-back of generous state support for the faltering industry.

Electricity exports up despite warnings

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0200

German electricity exports rose again last year, quashing concerns that the country's nuclear phase-out would lead to shortages. New figures show a four-fold increase in export surplus since 2011.

EU probes German electricity exemptions

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:37:00 +0100

The European Commission said Wednesday it was launching an investigation into possible state aid to large consumers of electricity in Germany.

Germany still supports foreign nuclear power

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:45:00 +0100

Despite the German government's dedication to ridding the country of nuclear power, it will continue to use public money to guarantee the construction of such power stations in other countries, it was reported at the weekend.