Mystery of the electricity price
Electricity costs for consumers are made up of several components: the energy price (often colloquially referred to as the "electricity price"), the basic flat rate from the electricity supplier,
Electricity prices for end consumers in Austria consist of several components: energy supply costs, regulated grid fees, and government taxes and surcharges. Typical breakdown of household electricity price in Austria (3500 kWh/year, as of Jan. 2025). Energy (~44%) + Network (~28%) + Taxes/Surcharges (~28%).
In practice, this means electricity rates are tied to the hourly prices on an exchange – in Austria's case, usually the EPEX Spot market (Austrian trading zone). Prices for each hour of the next day are fixed daily in the EPEX Spot day-ahead auction, and passed through to consumers in dynamic tariff plans.
Energy Supply (Wholesale & Retail): This is the cost of generating or procuring the electricity. In Austria's liberalized market, suppliers buy electricity on the wholesale market or produce it, and add a retail margin. This energy component typically makes up about 40–50% of the end-user price.
In summary, an average Austrian household in 2025 sees roughly 45% of their electricity cost from the energy supply, ~ 25–30% from network tariffs, and the remaining ~ 25% from taxes and levies. This composition can vary slightly by province and consumption level.
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