In its brief report titled “Expenditures for the Gas System in Germany – An Analysis of Historical Trends,” the EWI examines the level, use, and distribution of expenditures for the gas sector between 2010 and 2024.
Until 2021, direct expenditures averaged 4.4 ct2024/kWh per year; since 2022, they have averaged 9.3 ct2024/kWh, even as demand has declined. The gas crisis thus marks a clear turning point. Since the gas crisis, spending on procurement and trading has risen significantly. On average, it was more than twice as high in 2022–2024 as it was in 2010–2021. The main drivers were higher gas prices, government crisis measures, and carbon pricing. Real grid expenditures, however, remained largely constant over the entire period.
Through 2010-2021, all gas sector expenditures were fully funded by the private sector. It was not until the 2022 energy crisis that public budgets began to cover portions of the costs associated with procurement and trading. Public funds were primarily allocated to the gas price cap and the December emergency aid package. In addition, there were subsidies for LNG terminal infrastructure and measures related to gas reserves.
