In the first half of 2008, prices on the energy markets rose significantly worldwide. This development is now also affecting the gas and district heating prices of Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG): The company is increasing its prices for natural gas and district heating as of 01 October 2008.
Manfred Siekmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of SWG in a press conference: "We have kept our price promise to our private gas and district heating customers until 30 September 2008. Now, however, we can no longer absorb the drastic increase in our procurement costs internally. That is why we cannot avoid a price increase as of 1 October 2008." After net price reductions on 1 January and 1 April 2007, SWG last raised its gas and district heating prices on 1 January 2008.
What additional charges will gas and heating customers face?
In the area of gas supply, both the labour prices in the basic and replacement supply as well as the labour prices of the special price regulation for heating/thermo will increase by 1.30 cents (Ct) per kilowatt hour (kWh) net or by 1.55 Ct/kWh including all taxes. The basic price remains constant. For an average customer in the basic supply with an annual consumption of 3,000 kWh, this means a price increase of 17.51%. This corresponds to an additional monthly charge of 3.88 euros. A customer who heats with natural gas and consumes 30,000 kWh per year will pay €38.75 more per month from October - an increase of 24.72%.
District heating prices will also rise on 1 October. Labour prices will rise by 1.95 Ct/kWh net (2.32 Ct/kWh including all taxes). The annual performance price, which is payable per kilowatt of output, will increase by 0.87 Ct/kWh gross to 24.8 EUR/KW gross. As a result, customers in a flat supplied with district heating with an average consumption of 7,400 kWh per year will pay EUR 14.60 gross per month more in future, which corresponds to an increase of 24.43%. For customers with an annual consumption of 22,500 kWh (which corresponds to the consumption of a single-family home), the bill will increase by EUR 44.59 gross per month or 26.70 %.
Rising energy prices worldwide
Drivers are already familiar with developments on the global energy markets from the petrol stations, another example is the development of crude oil prices. Crude oil prices averaged USD 110 per barrel in the first half of 2008 and reached record levels of over USD 140 per barrel at the end of June. With a time lag, this development is leading to a significant increase in natural gas procurement costs.
Communicate meter readings
Stadtwerke will be writing to around 26,000 gas customers over the next few days to inform them of the new prices, which will come into effect on 1 October. A personalised meter reading card will also be included in the mail. All customers who wish to read their meter by the deadline of 1 October 2008 can do so using the card and return it to Stadtwerke by 15 October 2008. Customers can also inform SWG of their meter reading on the Internet at www.stadtwerke-giessen.de.
SWG supports energy saving
Stadtwerke supports its customers in saving energy. Because in times of high energy prices, this is the best way to protect the climate and your wallet. Together with the energy experts from the infoCentre, SWG customers can find out what savings can be made in their household. The infoZentrum on Marktplatz is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. More information about saving energy can also be found on the Internet at www.stadtwerke-giessen.de.