From January 2026, electricity grid fees in Germany will decrease by an average of 16%, offering partial relief for millions of households. The change is part of a federal plan to stabilize power prices and absorb rising infrastructure costs, according to new calculations from Verivox.
To achieve this, the German federal government will inject around €6.5 billion into the electricity transmission system, offsetting part of the costs typically passed on to consumers. For a three-person household consuming 4,000 kWh per year, this translates to a gross saving of approximately €82, Verivox said.
Biggest relief in Berlin and Brandenburg
While the reduction applies nationwide, the actual benefit varies between regions. Households in Berlin and Brandenburg will see the largest reductions, with grid fees expected to fall by about 23%. For the same average household, that means annual savings of around €121 in Berlin and €114 in Brandenburg.
By contrast, the smallest reduction is expected in Bremen, where electricity grid fees will drop by only 8%.
In October 2025, the average electricity price in Germany stood at 34.37 cents per kilowatt-hour. With the lower grid fees, this figure could fall to roughly 32.33 cents, representing a 6% decline — assuming energy suppliers pass the savings on to customers.
However, energy analyst Thorsten Storck from Verivox cautioned that providers are not legally required to forward these savings directly to consumers, so the real-world effect will depend on individual suppliers.
Gas network fees to rise by 11%
While electricity users are set to benefit, gas customers face higher costs. Verivox projects an average 11% increase in gas network fees for 2026, adding around €61 per year for a typical family consuming 20,000 kWh of gas.
Several factors are driving the increase. Lower gas consumption in recent years — due to mild winters, high prices, and weak industrial demand — has left fewer users to cover fixed network costs. Additionally, the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has allowed operators to accelerate depreciation of infrastructure investments, which raises short-term fees.
As a result, the average gas price in Germany could rise from 11.07 cents to 11.37 cents per kilowatt-hour, a 2.7% increase.
Gas storage levy abolished to balance costs
To offset some of these rising costs, consumers will be exempt from the gas storage levy starting in 2026. This change, according to Verivox, could balance out the increase in network fees for many households, depending on supplier pricing and regional tariffs.
Background: How grid fees shape energy prices
Grid fees — or Netzentgelte — represent the cost of using Germany’s transmission and distribution infrastructure. They account for roughly a quarter of the total energy price, making them one of the key levers for controlling household expenses.
By subsidizing the electricity network, Berlin aims to stabilize consumer prices and maintain competitiveness for businesses amid Europe’s ongoing energy transition.
