This is how other countries slow down their energy prices

Madrid, Paris, Athens, Vienna, Rome, Stockholm In a European comparison, Germany is late with its gas price brake. In view of the exploding energy prices, several EU countries have already set upper limits for electricity and gas tariffs for end consumers. Instead of a price cap, some countries rely on tax instruments. An overview.

France already had a cap on gas tariffs a year ago: prices for private households are frozen at the October 2021 level. Electricity prices were allowed to rise by a maximum of four percent this year. In the coming year, utilities will be allowed to increase their tariffs for electricity and gas by a maximum of 15 percent.

The state shoulders the difference between the skyrocketing wholesale market prices and the capped tariffs. The government in Paris has already spent more than 20 billion euros on this.