While heating costs for some energy sources are falling, others must expect significant cost increases.
In some areas, heating costs fell by up to 28 percent compared to the previous year. This is shown by the current heating index, which the non-profit consulting company co2online publishes annually. Accordingly, heat pump owners had to pay up to 350 euros less for heating their apartment, while owners of pellet stoves had their heating costs reduced by up to 210 euros. Only households that heat with district heating had to dig deeper into their pockets in 2023.
This sounds like a positive development for many households. Will it continue like this in 2024? co2online also investigated this.
The Heating Mirror predicts further relief for households when it comes to heating costs. However, only for certain energy sources. The experts assume that energy prices for gas heating systems will fall by up to 25 percent, those for heat pumps by up to 18 percent and those for pellet heating systems by 6 percent. According to the forecast for the billing year 2024, owners of oil heating systems could also expect heating costs to be up to 4 percent lower.
Only households that heat with district heating will have to dig deeper into their pockets in the future. The experts expect a price increase of up to 21 percent. “Due to the abolition of price controls and higher energy prices, district heating costs will rise significantly,” they explain their forecast. “Inadequate regulation and non-transparent pricing are possible additional reasons for the significant increase.”
In addition to energy source prices, CO2 taxes also influence the amount of heating costs. For 2023 the price was 30 euros/ton. 45 euros/ton must be paid in 2024. And in 2025 the taxes will rise again – to 55 euros/ton. Further gradual price increases are planned for the coming years. These will have a corresponding impact on heating costs. And that in turn affects the number of heating systems used in Germany: “If the CO2 price for fossil heating rises, the cost difference between renewable and fossil heating systems will continue to rise in the coming years and make investments in renewable energies even more lucrative.”
co2online notes that the increase in CO2 taxes is not enough “to reflect the actual costs of carbon dioxide.” The consulting company therefore advocates that homeowners implement modernization measures and heat more consciously.
