Despite rising costs, Stadtwerke Gießen is keeping its prices for natural gas and electricity constant.
Various media have reported in recent weeks that rising grid fees, levies and charges will make energy much more expensive from the beginning of 2025. These reports do not apply to natural gas and electricity from Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG). Despite the rising costs, SWG is not turning the price screw. "Once again, our long-term purchasing strategy is enabling us to compensate for increases in the aforementioned price components," says Andreas Hergaß, Commercial Director of SWG.
What exactly has happened?
The prices for natural gas and electricity are made up of various components. SWG has no influence on the majority of these. In the case of natural gas, for example, the grid fees will increase by 15 per cent on 1 January 2025. In addition, the next stage of theCO2 price will apply as planned, which means additional costs of 0.181 cents per kilowatt hour (Ct/kWh). Last but not least, the gas storage levy will also increase by 0.049 to 0.299 Ct/kWh. These items are included in the actual labour price to be paid at 0.215 and 0.356 Ct/kWh due to the VAT to be paid. There are two reasons why SWG does not have to pass these higher charges on to its customers: an intelligent procurement strategy and a calmer market with exchange prices that have stabilised at a level that is significantly lower than last winter. SWG is therefore offsetting rising external costs with better procurement conditions and offering its customers constant natural gas prices over the turn of the year.
The situation is very similar for electricity. Here, the grid fees will climb from a gross 6.77 to 7.08 Ct/kWh in the coming year. In addition, the CHP levy, the offshore levy and the levy in accordance with Section 19 of the Electricity Grid Charges Ordinance will also increase. Including VAT, these levies will add 1.281 ct/kWh to the electricity price in the coming year. "If grid fees and levies had remained constant, we could even have reduced our energy prices," calculates Matthias Funk, Technical Director of SWG.
Good prices, high quality
Always being able to offer its customers energy at the best possible price is just one of the standards that SWG has always set itself. They also consistently pursue the goal of reducingCO2 emissions and offering their customers corresponding products and solutions. This is reflected, among other things, in the electricity tariffs of the Natur-Power family: 100 per cent green electricity, either with a monthly notice period or at an attractive fixed price for twelve months. With the Natur-Power Aktiv 12 option, SWG even offers an alternative with certified green electricity, with which customers can actively support the energy transition by paying a small surcharge. The Grüner Strom Label e. V. seal of approval guarantees that the additional revenue is channelled into regional projects to expand renewable energies.