Belgium stands out as a country with lower prices for natural gas and electricity compared to its neighboring nations. A recent comparative price study conducted by
PwC on behalf of the four Belgian energy regulators CREG, VREG, Brugel, and CWaPE reveals these findings.
In terms of natural gas, Belgium emerges as the most affordable country for households in 2023, with a price of 113 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh). It closely competes with France for the top spot. The reduction of value-added tax on natural gas to 6 percent plays a significant role in maintaining this favorable difference. Within Belgium, Flanders offers slightly cheaper rates than Brussels and Wallonia due to lower taxes and surcharges.
Regarding electricity bills, both households and businesses connected to the low-voltage grid have witnessed a decrease compared to the previous year. However, prices remain considerably higher than those in previous years. Among the neighboring countries, only France, which regulates electricity as a standard household product, offers lower prices than Belgium.
For Belgian companies, gas bills align relatively well with their counterparts in foreign countries, thanks to comparatively lower levies, surcharges, and network costs. Since the energy component constitutes a substantial portion of the overall bill, the differences between countries are minimal, with Belgian companies paying an average of 124 euros per MWh.
When it comes to the medium-voltage grid, Belgian companies generally enjoy lower electricity costs compared to neighboring countries. This is partly due to the temporary reduction of special excise duties for this particular target group. Germany precedes Belgium as the only country offering cheaper rates. On average, Belgian companies pay 247 euros per MWh.
The joint study conducted by the four regulators serves as a follow-up to the price comparison studies conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The report compares prices in January 2023 with those of January 2022 for businesses, and prices in February 2023 with those of February 2022 for households. Photo by Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), Wikimedia commons.