Household electricity bills were up by 36% in Cyprus in the second half of 2021 compared with the same period of 2020, data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, on Friday, show. In general, in the second half of 2021, average household electricity prices in the European Union increased sharply compared with the same period of 2020 (€21.3 per 100 kWh), standing at €23.7 per 100 kWh.
According to the data, the third largest increase in household electricity bills was recorded in Cyprus, with prices increasing by 36% in the second half of 2021 compared with the same period last year.
Average gas prices in the EU also increased compared with the same period of 2020 (€7.0 per 100 kWh) to €7.8 per 100 kWh in the second half of 2021.
More recently, wholesale prices for electricity and gas have increased substantially across the EU. Energy and supply costs, caused by several economic factors, mainly drove the increase.
Taxes and levies accounted for 36% of the electricity bills charged to households in the EU in the second half of 2021. For gas bills, the corresponding share was 30%. There were no significant changes in this price component compared with a year ago.
The largest increase in household electricity prices in the EU in the second half of 2021 (expressed in national currencies) was registered in Estonia (50%), ahead of Sweden (49%) and Cyprus (36%). The only decreases were observed in Slovakia (6%) and Hungary (0.1%).
Expressed in euros, average household electricity prices in the second half of 2021 were lowest in Hungary (€10.0 per 100 kWh), Bulgaria (€10.9) and Croatia (€13.1) and highest in Denmark (€34.5), Germany (€32.3), Belgium (€29.9) and Ireland (€29.7).
Gas prices also increased between the second half of 2020 and the second half of 2021 in 20 of the 24 EU Member States that report natural gas prices in the household sector (Cyprus is not included in the data as there is no natural gas provision for households).
The largest increases in household gas prices in national currencies), were observed in Bulgaria (103%) followed by Greece (96%) and Estonia (83%). The only decreases in price were recorded in Slovakia (12%), Czechia (5%) and Portugal (1%).
Expressed in euro, average household gas prices in the second half of 2021 were lowest in Hungary (€3.1 per 100 kWh), Croatia (€4.0) and Lithuania (€4.1) and highest in Sweden (€18.6), Denmark (€12.5), the Netherlands (€11.0) and Spain (€10.8).
Source: Cyprus News Agency