German power bills to rise on surge in renewables

[Dead_Parrot]

BERLIN, Oct 15 (Reuters) - A surge in Germany's renewable energy capacity this year will lead to a more than 70 percent jump in the levy consumers pay on their electricity bills for green power, according to data from grid operators on Friday.

The levy, which consumers pay as a subsidy to producers of wind and photovoltaic and other types of renewable energy, will rise to 3.53 cents per kilowatt hour (kw/h) in 2011 from 2.05 cents, said the electricity network operators, including utilities EnBW (EBKG.DE: Quote) and RWE (RWEG.DE: Quote).

{snip}

Germany's Renewable Energy Act has fuelled its rapid growth over the last decade. The government cut the feed-in tariffs for photovoltaic power by a further 16 percent this year on top of the 10 percent annual reduction already included in the law.

The announcements that cuts were coming sparked an unprecedented boom in demand this year.

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE69E0KS20101015?sp=true

[thunder rising]

1. OMG!!! 70% increase ... Oh never mind it amounts to a .50 cent increase.

3.53 cents per kilowatt hour (kw/h) in 2011 from 2.05 cents, How many kw/hrs do you use? How many pennies is that?

[DCKit]

2. What you said. OMD. n/t

[Dead_Parrot]

3. 3.53-2.05=1.48

(stop me if I go too fast here)

1.48c EU = 2.07c US:

"This means the average household bill for a three-person family using 3500 kWh a year will increase by Eur60 in 2011, according to various media reports."


€60 = US$84

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. That's a very small power bill...

...in kWH by American standards. My (1936, admittedly badly insulated) 26' x 40' Cape uses 1000 kWH a month.

[Dead_Parrot]

5. German houses tend to be a lot smaller and better insulated

It also depends if you have NG for heating or cooking, which can account for a large chunk. (Of course, if you do, there's something wrong... :P)

[joshcryer]

6. Actually, they also tend to be thrifty. I will never forget my brother...

...complaining that no one used their heat in Germany except right before bed, or sometimes before meals with guests. He was terrified that everyone wore coats indoors and thick sweaters and several layers of clothing.

US Americans, we're soft. ;)

When sleeping I use almost zero watts in my house, seriously, I turn everything off except the fridge and alarm clock. And by turn everything off, I mean I have physical switches on my power strips that I turn off rendering all electricity to all devices on said strip off.

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Well, I didn't like to say...

I always carefully bite my toungue when the "set your AC/heating to xx degrees to save power" threads roll up in GD. What's wrong with cracking open a cold beer or donning a sweater?

I've eventually concluded the only explanation is, that the US population isn't descended from any sort of mammal but are, in fact, iguanas.

;)

[Nihil]

8. I'm going to have to make sure I've finished my coffee before reading around here ...

> I've eventually concluded the only explanation is, that the US population
> isn't descended from any sort of mammal but are, in fact, iguanas.

:spray: :spank:

[NickB79]

9. Kick

I'm surprised more DU members here on the E/E haven't chimed in yet. Oh wait, I'm not.