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Which countries are doing the most to tackle energy bills? Which countries are doing the most to tackle energy bills?
(25 days later)
A power plant in Tuscany, northern ItalyA power plant in Tuscany, northern Italy
Energy prices have been rising for households across Europe in the past few months. Energy bills have been rising for households across Europe in recent months. The price increases are being driven by rising energy demands and worries about gas and oil supplies in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The increases are being driven by rising energy demands and worries about gas and oil supplies in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Individual countries, and the European Union (EU), have announced support - worth many billions of pounds - to help people struggling to meet their energy costs.
However, different approaches to help ease the pressure are being taken across the continent. Here's what they're doing:
UK The EU
British energy bills are more exposed to price rises. That's because the majority of homes are heated with gas and around 40% of electricity is generated by gas-fired power stations - more than in most other European countries. In 2021, the EU imported 40% of its gas from Russia - so many of its member states are exposed to high energy prices.
The UK government has announced every household will get an energy bill discount of £400. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a cap on the revenues of electricity companies which produce energy from wind, solar and nuclear sources.
Households on means-tested benefits will also get a one-off payment of £650, while pensioner households will receive an extra winter fuel payment of £300. There will also be a one-off disability cost-of-living payment of £150. She said they were benefiting from "excess revenues" and estimated the cap would raise €140 billion (£121bn) to help shield consumers from high bills.
These payments will be partly funded by a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas firms' profits, which the government expects to raise £5bn. She is also planning a windfall tax on the profits of oil, gas and coal companies.
According to one forecast, average UK household energy bills could reach £355 a month from January. The plans will go ahead if EU member states approve them but it is not clear yet how quickly this could be done.
The UK government say it's spending £37bn to help people through the cost of living crisis, "higher or similar to countries like France, Germany, Japan and Italy," according to former Chancellor Rishi Sunak. The EU also wants to target energy demand with a call to cut electricity consumption at peak hours by at least 5%. It has also agreed a cut to gas consumption of 15% by March 2023. This is voluntary - at the moment - and member states will have to decide how to do this.
However, there are some questions about this figure, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies saying that £18bn should be subtracted from that figure to take into account tax increases. Germany
That means that a figure of £19bn will be helping make up for the rise in energy bills. German households pay more for electricity than any other country in the EU and 4.2 million German households will see their gas bills rise by an average of 62% in 2022 according to Reuters.
How high could my energy bills go? Germany is the largest net-importer of Russian fossil fuel.
How will I get the cost-of-living payments? In September, the German government announced a €65bn (£56.2bn) package of measures, including one-off payments to the most vulnerable and tax breaks to energy-intensive businesses.
Italy The government had already brought in subsidies for low-income households, cuts to petrol and diesel taxes, a one-off €300 (£253) pay-out, extra child support payments and public transport discounts.
Italy has announced a €14bn (£12bn) fuel subsidy and investment plan. It will allow families to keep their fuel bills around 2021 levels, and to invest in renewable energy. Households will also be encouraged to switch to electric vehicles and renewable sources of energy. It is also trying to cut energy demand by:
Other measures include a €200 (£169) one-off payment to people earning €35,000 (£29,600) a year or less, and a 20% tax credit for all energy-intensive companies experiencing a 30% rise in prices. dimming street lights
To help pay for these measures, taxes are being raised for energy companies whose profits have gone up as a result of the higher fuel prices. turning off fountains
Overall, Italy is expecting to spend about €49.5bn (£42bn). lowering the temperature in public swimming pools.
Turning off fountains is one way Germany is trying to reduce its energy demand.Turning off fountains is one way Germany is trying to reduce its energy demand.
Spain
Spain has cut VAT on energy bills from 21% to 10%. A special tax on electricity has also been temporarily cut from 7% to 0.5%.
To pay for these tax cuts, Spain introduced a windfall tax on energy companies, which aims to raise €3bn (£2.5bn).
In April, the European Commission agreed a price cap for gas in Portugal and Spain - an average of €50 (£42) per megawatt-hour.
The price cap will last for one year and aims to halve gas bills for 40% of customers in the two countries.
When combined, Spain's measures are expected to cost about €27bn (£23bn).
FranceFrance
In January, the French government forced the state-owned energy provider, Électricité de France (EDF), to cap wholesale price rises to 4% for a year, at a cost of €8.4bn (£7bn). In January, the French government forced the state-owned energy provider, Électricité de France (EDF), to cap price rises at 4% for a year, at a cost of €8.4bn (£7bn).
France had already announced a one-off €100 (£84) payment last year to 5.8 million households receiving energy vouchers. Since then, it has also reduced taxes on electricity.France had already announced a one-off €100 (£84) payment last year to 5.8 million households receiving energy vouchers. Since then, it has also reduced taxes on electricity.
According to Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank, France is expected to spend €45bn (£38bn) to support people through the cost of living crisis.According to Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank, France is expected to spend €45bn (£38bn) to support people through the cost of living crisis.
In March dozens of French taxi drivers protest against a hike in fuel prices.In March dozens of French taxi drivers protest against a hike in fuel prices.
Germany Italy
German households pay more for electricity than any other country in the EU, and 4.2 million German households will see their gas bills rise by an average 62.3% in 2022 according to reporting by Reuters. Italy has announced a €14bn (£12bn) plan to allow families to keep their fuel bills at around 2021 levels. It also wants to invest more in renewable energy.
The government has already brought in subsidies for low-income households and is now spending an extra €15bn (£12.6bn) on fuel subsidies through cutting petrol and diesel taxes, providing people with one-off €300 (£253) pay-outs, extra child support payments and public transport discounts. The measures include a €200 (£169) one-off payment to people earning €35,000 (£29,600) a year or less, and a 20% tax credit for all energy-intensive companies experiencing a 30% rise in prices.
The total cost for these measures is expected to be about €60bn (£51bn). To help pay for this, taxes are being raised for energy companies.
Germany is the largest net-importer of Russian fossil fuel. In June, the government introduced a set of measures to reduce the demand for energy, such as: Overall, Italy is expecting to spend about €49.5bn (£42bn).
dimming street lights
turning off fountains
lowering the temperature in public swimming pools.
NetherlandsNetherlands
The Dutch government has spent €2.7bn (£2.3bn) cutting taxes on the energy used by businesses and households, and it plans to use €150m (£127m) to support the most vulnerable households. It has also cut duty on petrol and diesel by 21% until the end of the year. VAT on energy bills and tax on petrol and diesel have been cut by the government.
The Netherlands is expecting to spend approximately €6bn (£5bn). Low income households are getting a €1,300 energy (£1,141) allowance this year to help with energy bills.
The 2023 budget, which will be announced on 20 September, is expected to include another €1,300 for poorer households as well as:
a higher minimum wage
lower income tax
higher benefits and allowances (such as child benefit, student grants and tax credits)
The Netherlands is expecting to spend €16 billion on these measures.
Spain
It has cut VAT on energy bills and reduced tax on electricity.
To pay for this, it introduced a windfall tax on energy companies, which aims to raise €3bn (£2.5bn).
Spain and Portugal have introduced a price cap for gas - which has been backed by the European Commission.
The cap will last for one year and aims to halve gas bills for 40% of customers in the two countries.
There is also a one-off payment of €200 euros for people in Spain who earn less than €14,000 a year and are not already receiving benefits.
Spain's measures are expected to cost about €27bn (£23bn).
NorwayNorway
In Norway, the government has set a maximum price that households should pay for their energy - anything over that and the government will pay 80% of the bill. In Norway, the government has set a maximum price that households should pay for their energy - anything over this and the government will pay 80% of the bill.
This measure, along with other support, will cost around €2bn (£1.7bn). This measure, along with other support, will cost around 40.6bn Norwegian Krone (£3.6bn).
PolandPoland
As part of an "anti-inflation shield", the Polish government has announced a plan to cut VAT on food, gas and fertilizers to 0%. As part of an "anti-inflation shield", the Polish government has announced a plan to cut VAT on food, gas and fertilizer to 0%.
VAT on heating will come down to 5% while VAT on petrol and diesel will fall to 8%. These measures were scheduled to last for six months. There have already been cuts to VAT on petrol, diesel and energy bills.
The Polish government is also sending money directly to seven million households, with some eligible for as much as €306 (£258) per year. In July, Poland's government approved an allowance of €630 (£557) to households that use coal for heating, as prices climbed to a record high.
Along with other measures, Poland is expected to spend €8bn (£6bn). It is also sending money directly to seven million households, with some eligible for as much as €306 (£258) per year.
Switzerland Poland is expected to spend €8bn (£6bn) on support measures overall.
In July, the director of the VSE association of Swiss electricity companies warned that the country could be forced to impose rolling four-hour regional blackouts. UK
Swiss energy companies are now paying more per unit for solar power, so any excess energy households feed back into the grid commands a higher price. Many Swiss households with solar panels haven't paid anything for gas or electricity this year and some have made a profit. On 8 September, the government announced it would limit energy bill rises for all households for two years.
The EU A typical household energy bill will be capped at £2,500 annually until 2024.
In 2021, the European Union imported 40% of its gas from Russia. The scheme could cost up to £150bn.
The EU has agreed to cut gas consumption by 15% between now and March 2023. The target is voluntary but in the event of Russia cutting off gas supplies to the bloc, the EU could declare an emergency and make the target mandatory. Member states are free to decide how they ration the supply of gas as long as they don't limit the supply to households. The previous government introduced an energy bill discount of £400 for every household. Households on means-tested benefits will also get a one-off payment of £650, while pensioner households will receive an extra winter fuel payment of £300. There will also be a one-off disability cost-of-living payment of £150.
It has been estimated that if the EU did cut its usage by 15% it could save 1.6tr cubic feet of gas between now and March 2023, equivalent to a third of the gas it imported from Russia in 2021. These payments will be partly funded by a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas firms' profits, expected to raise £5bn.
Are these plans sustainable?Are these plans sustainable?
Some have wondered how long governments can carry on protecting consumers. If high inflation carries on into 2023 or beyond, governments might struggle to protect households.Some have wondered how long governments can carry on protecting consumers. If high inflation carries on into 2023 or beyond, governments might struggle to protect households.
"Such heavy subsidisation is unsustainable from a public-finance perspective and damaging from geopolitical and energy-security perspectives - not to mention for the environment," says Simone Tagliapietra, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel who has collected data on government measures to protect consumers."Such heavy subsidisation is unsustainable from a public-finance perspective and damaging from geopolitical and energy-security perspectives - not to mention for the environment," says Simone Tagliapietra, a Senior Fellow at Bruegel who has collected data on government measures to protect consumers.
Others fear what could happen if Europe is unable to find alternatives to Russian oil and gas.Others fear what could happen if Europe is unable to find alternatives to Russian oil and gas.
"The most difficult moment should be the autumn and winter ahead," says Ilaria Conti, head of gas at the Florence School of Regulation."The most difficult moment should be the autumn and winter ahead," says Ilaria Conti, head of gas at the Florence School of Regulation.
The overall figure for UK was updated to take account of analysis by the IFSThe overall figure for UK was updated to take account of analysis by the IFS