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Malta fifth highest in EU for household electricity prices Malta has placed in fifth place among the 27 EU Member States in cost of household electricity in 2009, where consumers paid an average of 25% above the EU average for every 100 kWh consumed. Figures released by Eurostat following an EU-wide study based on a fictitious currency unit denominated as PPS to level discrepancies shows that in 2009, 20.68 PPS would buy you 100 kWh in Malta as against 16.45 PPS across all EU Member States. While Eurostat acknowledges the fact that Malta is totally dependent on oil to generate electricity through its power stations, the figures published by the EU statistics agency reflect this reality through PPS as a measure that calculates the strength of EU economies when compared to individual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Countries like Finland, France, and Greece, generate energy from an array of sources, and consumers in these countries had the benefit of having their household tariffs reduced in 2009, with the largest decreases were registered in neighbouring Cyprus (-20%), Italy (-10%), Ireland (-9%) and Denmark (-8%). But the highest increases in this sector during 2009 were registered in Poland (+18%), Luxembourg (+17%) and Slovenia (+16%). Expressed in euro, average household electricity prices during the second half of 2009 were lowest in Bulgaria (€8.2 per 100 kWh), Estonia (€9.2) and Lithuania (€9.3). The highest average household electricity price in euro paid for in 2009 was in Denmark with €25.5 for every 100 kWh, Germany (€22.9) and Italy (€20.0). The average electricity price in the EU27 was €16.5 per every 100 kWh. In taxation terms, the share of taxes in household electricity prices was 26% on average in the EU27, ranging from 5% in Malta and the United Kingdom to 56% in Denmark and 41% in Germany. No data was available to Eurostat from Malta with regards to gas prices. Statistics showed that the lowest gas prices in PPS were registered in Luxembourg, Belgium and in the United Kingdom. The average gas price in the EU27 was €14.7 per gigajoule, with the highest price for gas paid in Sweden with €26.9, Denmark at €26.8 and the Netherlands with €18.7. Any comments? |
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Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email
Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email