Expensive Energy: Households Pay Again

Energy costs increased by 0.2 percent in February 2025 compared to the previous month. Over the course of a year, energy for household customers became 3.4 percent more expensive. This price increase was once again above the inflation rate, the Austrian Energy Agency (AEA) announced on Monday. Firewood, natural gas, and light heating oil became cheaper, while other energy sources - especially electricity - became more expensive.

Electricity as the Main Cause of Price Increase

The largest price increase within a month was for wood pellets at 1.4 percent. However, on an annual basis, these cost 15.7 percent less. Firewood decreased both on a monthly and annual basis: Firewood became 0.3 percent cheaper compared to the previous month and 9 percent cheaper compared to February 2024.

Electricity increased in February compared to January by only 0.3 percent. However, after the increase at the beginning of the year, the price was 35.7 percent above the previous year's value.

Declining Prices for Pellets, Firewood, and Gas

The prices for natural gas fell by 0.1 percent compared to January - on an annual basis, however, customers paid 12.3 percent less, according to the AEA. Household customers paid 0.1 percent more for diesel in February than a month earlier. Compared to the previous year, however, diesel cost 5.8 percent less. Super gasoline cost 0.7 percent more on a monthly comparison. Compared to the same period last year, super gasoline decreased by 0.4 percent. Heating oil became 0.1 percent cheaper compared to January and remains 6.5 percent below the previous year's level.

(APA/Red)

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