German EEG surcharge and the electricity supply costs for 2014. An analysis of trends, causes and interactions

The EEG surcharge is expected to rise again in 2014; according to our estimates, it will increase by 0.8 ct/kWh to approx. 6.1 ct/kWh. The study concludes that this development is primarily due to the low wholesale electricity prices. As an indicator of the burden on final consumers, the EEG surcharge and the wholesale electricity price should therefore always be considered in conjunction. Furthermore, it is shown that the burden on private consumers can be significantly reduced by restricting the exemptions for electricity-intensive companies.