The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) stated that higher gas utility bills are not ruled out for consumers. According to agency head Klaus Müller, most private households should initially benefit from price guarantees lasting twelve months or more. However, he warned that price increases could still occur when connection contracts are renewed, though he emphasized that these increases would not reach the extreme levels seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Müller also noted that the current energy situation is significantly better than the one experienced five years ago, and he urged consumers to practice conservation, reminding the public that gas remains a valuable resource.
In contrast to gas, Müller stated that the trend for electricity prices is downward, making it comparatively cheaper. He attributed this shift to the increasing cost-effectiveness of renewable energy, citing both seasonal and general market factors. Regarding “negative electricity prices”-which occur when surplus power is generated-Müller expressed openness to regulatory intervention. He noted that this phenomenon forces a discussion on how to mitigate negative pricing, suggesting potential solutions such as increasing energy storage capacity or replacing feed-in tariffs with a direct market sale of renewable power on the exchange.
