EU household gas and electricity prices fall in the first half of 2026
Average European Union household gas and electricity prices declined in the first half of 2026, though national prices varied widely. Gas fell 10.2 per cent from the preceding six months to 0.11 euros per kilowatt-hour. Electricity declined 2.2 per cent to 0.28 euros per kilowatt-hour, remaining above levels before the 2022 energy crisis.
Economics & Markets··Evening
Gas falls faster than electricity
Average household gas and electricity prices across the European Union declined in the first half of 2026. Gas cost 0.11 euros per kilowatt-hour, down 10.2 per cent from the second half of 2025 and 3.5 per cent from the first half of that year. The gas average was the lowest since the period after the first half of 2022. Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, said seasonal fluctuations had returned to their pre-energy-crisis pattern. Household electricity averaged 0.28 euros per kilowatt-hour, declining 2.2 per cent from 0.29 euros in the preceding six months. Electricity prices remained well above levels before the 2022 energy crisis.[1], [2], [3]
Ireland has the highest nominal electricity price
Country-level electricity prices ranged from 0.11 euros per kilowatt-hour in Hungary to 0.39 euros in Ireland. Germany and Belgium each recorded 0.36 euros, while Malta and Bulgaria each recorded 0.13 euros. Six countries exceeded 0.30 euros and five were below 0.20 euros. Taxes and levies represented 28.4 per cent of the final electricity bill, compared with 28.9 per cent in the preceding six months, a decline of 0.5 percentage points. Annual comparisons in national currencies showed electricity rising 51.6 per cent in Romania, 19.8 per cent in Ireland and 18.4 per cent in Finland. Denmark recorded a decline of 31.7 per cent and Luxembourg 24.1 per cent.[2]
Sweden records the highest nominal gas price
Household gas was most expensive in Sweden at 0.22 euros per kilowatt-hour, followed by the Netherlands at 0.16 euros and France and Portugal at 0.13 euros each. Hungary’s 0.03 euros was the lowest, followed by Croatia at 0.05 euros and Romania and Slovakia at 0.06 euros each. Annual gas prices in national currencies fell in 12 countries, rose in 7 and stayed broadly stable in 4. Bulgaria’s decline was 14.5 per cent, Greece’s 11.3 per cent and Spain’s 10.0 per cent. Romania recorded an increase of 9.3 per cent, Croatia 8.9 per cent and Slovakia 6.6 per cent. Poland’s gas data were confidential; Finland, Malta and the Southern Cyprus Republic did not report household gas prices. On the purchasing-power measure, Sweden also ranked highest, at 17.7 per 100 kilowatt-hours, followed by Portugal at 15.0.[1]
