EU household electricity prices ease in first half of 2026
Average household electricity prices across the EU fall in the first half of 2026, reversing the previous half-year's level but remaining above pre-2022 energy crisis benchmarks. The decline comes alongside a small reduction in taxes and levies, while large price differences persist across member states.
Highlights
- Average household electricity prices in the EU dropped 2.2% to €0.28 per kWh in the first half of 2026, down from €0.29 in late 2025.
- Romania, Ireland, and Finland saw sharp year-on-year price increases of 51.6%, 19.8%, and 18.4% respectively, while Denmark and Luxembourg posted declines of 31.7% and 24.1%.
- Romanian households faced the region's highest electricity cost burden measured in purchasing power standard at 46.9 per 100 kWh, with Malta, Hungary, and Luxembourg reporting the lowest.
Eurostat data show uneven national price shifts
As reported by Eurostat, average household electricity prices in the EU decline by 2.2% to €0.28 per kWh in the first half of 2026, from €0.29 per kWh in the second half of 2025. Taxes and levies also edge lower, with their share of the final bill slipping to 28.4% from 28.9% in the previous half-year.Price levels vary widely across the bloc. Six countries report household electricity prices above €0.30 per kWh, while five post prices below €0.20 per kWh.
Ireland records the highest household electricity price at €0.39 per kWh, followed by Germany and Belgium at €0.36. The lowest prices are observed in Hungary at €0.11, and in Malta and Bulgaria at €0.13 each.
Purchasing power and regional cost pressure
Compared with the first half of 2025, national currency comparisons point to sharp increases in Romania, where prices rise 51.6%, Ireland, up 19.8%, and Finland, up 18.4%. By contrast, Denmark records a 31.7% decline and Luxembourg a 24.1% drop.Measured in purchasing power standard, the heaviest household electricity burden falls on Romania at 46.9 per 100 kWh, followed by Poland at 41.1 and Czechia at 34.3. The lowest PPS-based prices are seen in Malta at 13.8, Hungary at 14.7 and Luxembourg at 15.5.
Mario Draghi’s warning on the growth risks of restrictive monetary policy highlighted the trade-off policymakers face between fighting inflation and preserving long-term investment capacity. In our earlier article, we noted his argument that keeping interest rates above growth for too long can worsen debt dynamics and raise the cost of capital, potentially weakening productivity and resilience. He also pointed to EU-level measures—such as deeper market integration and targeted industrial support—to offset the drag on investment while maintaining price stability.
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