German Bakery Slapped With €330,000 Gas Bill After Contract Canceled
A German bakery was slapped with a €330,000 (US$330,000) gas bill after a new energy company suddenly terminated their contract which guaranteed pricing until the end of 2023, Junge Freiheit reported, citing Bild .
"Are they crazy?" said owner Eckehard Vatter, who says he has 14 days to pay the bill. "A year ago, we paid €5,856 per month in gas costs for our large furnaces and heating," he added.
Vatter said his new energy supplier hasn't given him a reason for the 1,200% price increase.
What's more, since Vatter's bakery is considered a 'craft business' under commercial law, he can't receive any support from the state. He claims to have paid €19.9 million in taxes in recent years, according to ReMix.
Almost three weeks ago we noted that shocked Europeans had been posting viral photos of absurdly high energy bills.
Days later, the German government announced a €65 billion relief package to cushion citizens and companies from skyrocketing energy costs. The agreement, which brings total relief to almost 100 billion euros since the start of the Ukraine war, was agreed upon by Germany's three-way ruling coalition of Scholz's Social Democrats, the Greens, and the liberal FDP.
Among the headline measures are one-off payments to millions of vulnerable pensioners and a plan to skim off energy firms' windfall profits. In short, creeping nationalization of the energy sector.
And a couple days after that package was announced, Economy Minister Robert Habeck promised to help small and medium businesses.
"We will open a wide rescue umbrella," he said during a Sept. 8 speech in Berlin. "We will open it widely so that small and medium enterprises can come under it."
Unless you're a bakery classified as a 'craft business.'
Europe mulls drastic moves to control prices as Russia energy war heats up
European Union considering price cap on Russian gas
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a plan in Brussels on Sept. 7 to control rising energy prices. (Video: European Union)
BRUSSELS — Faced with an “astronomic” rise in energy prices, European Union ministers will meet Friday to discuss emergency measures to get their nations through the cold months ahead without additional social and economic upheavals.
The European Commission has asked countries to consider five immediate moves including a plan to redistribute some energy producers’ windfall revenue to businesses and households (in stark contrast to Britain), a price cap on Russian pipeline gas, and mandatory targets for reducing electricity use during peak hours, among other possible steps.
The potential plan underscores the widespread sense of alarm across Europe as the fallout from the war continues to weigh on European economies. The European Central Bank on Thursday raised interest rates for the second time this year in a bid to cool off inflation without driving Europe into recession.
But for all the talk of solidarity, the E.U. remains divided on the details, with some countries expressing skepticism about windfall taxes and others worried about the idea of a gas price cap. Some would like to tweak the bloc’s power market, while others want an overhaul, including the total decoupling of gas and electricity prices. “The devil is in the details,” said a senior E.U. diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes talks.
Meanwhile in Mark Steeles latest video he discusses the energy prices and, and how "T.H.E.Y."
are lying to you about the cost...
He has some "tools"...
TOOLS FOR TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE TERRORISM
What we are confronted with now is much worse. It’s Agenda ID2020 on steroids. It’s the worldwide invasion of the QR code – QR coding of everything, including Agenda ID2020 – and all of your most intimate data, health, personal behaviors, habits – track records of where we have been and even where we may be planning to go. Nothing will escape the QR code. Nobody talks about it.
As spot market electricity prices break all records, what is the prediction for winter?
Prices on the European spot markets for electricity are at their highest levels since the beginning of exchange trading. The exchanges had to introduce higher price limits to react to the situation. What is currently happening on the short-term markets and what will happen in winter?
In most European countries, short-term prices for the physical delivery of electricity are formed via spot markets on energy exchanges. The day-ahead market plays the largest role, accounting for about 80 per cent of exchange-traded volume . Here, the hourly electricity prices for the next day (day-ahead) are determined daily by an auction with producers and buyers . In general, therefore, both suppliers and consumers influence the level of prices through their bids and volumes.
Day-ahead as main market
On the generator side, the short-term generation cost of the last power plant to meet demand determines the price. All producers receive this price and all buyers of electricity must pay this price. Price elasticity on the electricity buyer side is very low. This means that demand for electricity reacts only slightly to price changes. Energy suppliers have to buy electricity for their customers even when prices on the spot market are high in order to continue supplying them. Nevertheless, lower electricity demand due to efficiency measures in industry or savings in households have an effect on demand and lower prices.
Fossil fuels drive prices
Thermal power plants such as coal and gas-fired power plants are price setting in many hours on the day-ahead market, and their specific power generation costs depend heavily on fossil fuels. Figure 1 shows the average marginal cost components of gas and hard coal power plants since Q4 2021.
Here it becomes clear that the fossil fuels and not the costs for CO2 certificates are the price drivers . The cost share of CO2 certificates has decreased over time. In addition, it is obvious that coal-fired power generation is more cost-effective than gas-fired power generation: gas prices have risen much more sharply than coal prices . The price of gas in particular has risen by more than 1,000 per cent compared with the start of 2021 due toRussia’s supply restrictions. Thus, the current price spikes on the spot market are mainly due to the very high prices of fossil primary energy sources such as coal and natural gas.
…Germany
After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, electricity prices initially shot up immediately, but then fell again. Since the sharply reduced gas flows from Russia in mid-June 2022, spot prices for gas rose to a record level, and due to this, electricity prices also rose again. So far, in 2022, spot electricity prices are five to ten times higher than in previous years. On August 22, the daily spot market price for Germany exceeded 600 EUR/MWh, 15 times the average of the 2010s. In August 2022, the German record for day-ahead prices (daily values) was broken six times (on 8/3, 8/16, 8/17, 8/18, 8/23, and 8/24).
…France
Short-term electricity prices are also at record levels in other European countries. In particular, France, Italy and the Baltic region are affected. In France, electricity prices are even higher than in Germany. The low availability of French nuclear power plants due to weather and repair-related outages is affecting the neighbouring country. Currently, only about 45 per cent of nuclear capacity in France actually generates electricity: a 30-year negative record (source: Montel). As European electricity trading on EPEX SPOT is also handled on a cross-border basis, more electricity flowed from Germany to France this year, as consumption there could not be fully covered by France’s own generation, or would have been even more expensive than generation in and imports from Germany.
Electricity exports from Germany to France increased six fold in the second quarter of 2022 compared with the previous year (source: Montel). Low generation from French nuclear power plants has also increased German day-ahead electricity prices, especially since May 2022. Figure 3 shows the monthly average of day-ahead prices for selected European countries since the beginning of the year, illustrating the increase in almost all countries.
Figure 3: monthly average price on the day-ahead markets of selected European countries / SOURCE: Energy Brainpool
…Spain
Since theIberian Peninsulais less integrated into the European interconnected grid, the Central European markets with high prices do not exert such an upward pressure on Spanish day-ahead prices. Other reasons for the declining electricity prices in Spain since June 2022 are the independent supply of Spain by liquefied natural gas and thus lower primary energy prices than in other EU countries, as well as a state-imposed maximum price for natural gas used in gas-fired power plants for generation (source: EU Commission). The price of natural gas used in power generation was limited by the Spanish government to 48.8 EUR/MWh. In comparison, gas prices on the spot market in Central Europe are over 240 EUR/MWh as of the end of August.
…Baltic states
Spot prices for electricity of over EUR 1000/MWh are presently also not uncommon in the Baltic states. On August 16, 2022, the spot price for one hour even reached the 4,000 EUR/MWh mark, as not enough generation capacities were available. The Lithuanian transmission system operator Litgrid then activated 50 MW of peak load capacity to provide for the shortfall (source: Montel). The background for the conditions in the Baltic states is the fastest possible dissolution of the network interconnection from Russia.
Power exchanges had to increase the maximum price
In fact, the minimum and maximum electricity prices in the day-ahead auction are capped: for a long time, bids could only be submitted between -500 EUR/MWh and +3,000 EUR/MWh. However, back in 2017, the operators of the European power exchanges stipulated that the maximum possible price must be increased by 1,000 EUR/MWh if the price in a power market was above 60 per cent of the previous maximum. This adjustment of bid levels is intended to enable electricity trading to continue to function even in extreme situations.
Already in spring 2022, the power exchanges implemented an increase of the maximum price to 4,000 EUR/MWh. The trigger was a price of 2987.88 EUR/MWh for the hour from 8 to 9 a.m. on April 4, 2022 in France (source: Montel). At the end of August, the power exchanges determined that the maximum price would be raised to 5,000 EUR/MWh across Europe due to the limit being reached in the Baltic states. The implementation is scheduled to take place on September 20.
Outlook for the winter
Electricity prices on spot markets are generally higher in winter than in spring and summer due to higher electricity consumption. This year, there is the added fear of a gas shortage. Since gas-fired power plants often determine the price on the day-ahead market during peak electricity demand periods, it is likely that low gas imports in winter will lift both gas and electricity prices to new records. The main risks that could exacerbate the shortage situation are a cold winter, a reduced supply of LNG due to rising prices in Asia, an insufficient reduction in gas demand in Europe, a complete absence of Russian gas supplies, and continued low availability of the French nuclear fleet.
The futures market provides an outlook on market prices. Traders can trade a future delivery period there. Today’s prices on the forward market therefore reflect the expected average electricity price for the delivery period of the respective product. At the end of August 2022, the price for base-load delivery of electricity for the fourth quarter for Germany stood at 1,000 EUR/MWh. Prices for the fourth quarter have increased since the 60 per cent reduction in Russian gas supply through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in mid-June 2022.
At the end of August, prices rose extremely. The background to this was Gazprom’s further announcement to interrupt the gas supply via Nord Stream 1 for the first days of September. In contrast, prices fell at the beginning of September due to the high filling levels of the German gas storage facilities and the announcements by the EU to intervene in the price formation on the spot markets for electricity (Figure 4).
Figure 4: development of the price for baseload electricity supply for Germany in the fourth quarter of 2022 / SOURCE: Montel
It remains very interesting how and whether the political announcements on interventions in price formation on the electricity markets will be realised. In general, the current market situation still indicates that spot market prices for the last three months of 2022 will be higher than ever before . The market’s expectation: even higher spot market prices for the last three months of 2022 than before. Hopefully, all consumers, from industrial to residential, will prepare for higher prices by increasing energy conservation and leveraging efficiency measures.
Germans protest soaring energy prices as EU warns of ‘dark winter’
People have gathered in the German capital to protest soaring energy and commodity prices, and denounce their government’s stance on the war in Ukraine.
Germans took to the streets in Berlin for the second time in three days on Monday, saying the government’s policies on the war in Ukraine had led to an energy crisis, a stagnant economy, and soaring prices.
“People can’t afford to heat their homes and, what’s more, the situation is still worsening,” said one protester.
The protesters also called on US-led NATO to immediately stop sending arms to Ukraine and to work to resolve the crisis peacefully through diplomacy.
Since the start of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine in late February, Germany has offered substantial support to Ukraine, sending the country billions of dollars in military aid and heavy weaponry. Russia has in turn cut off gas supplies to Europe, causing a worsening energy crisis.
Berlin accuses Russia of wielding energy as a weapon. Russia blames Western sanctions for the delay of necessary repairs to supply pipelines.
‘Dark winter’
EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, meanwhile, warned that the continent could face widespread and long lasting blackouts this winter amid the crisis.
As one coomenter put it "Sam is correct in his comment above. The Germans can protest until their throats are raw and hands are blistered from holding signs, but nothing will change until they drag some politicians, bankers, and media whores from those buildings, beat the ever living piss out of them, and hang them from streetlight posts, highway overpasses, and stout tree branches."
Europe’s renewable energy supply chain under threat from soaring power prices, 25% of solar and battery manufacturing capacity at risk
Record-breaking electricity prices across Europe are damaging the continent’s attempts to build a reliable low-carbon supply chain and reach its decarbonization targets, as solar and battery manufacturers face mounting costs. Rystad Energy research shows that 35 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV manufacturing and more than 2,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cell manufacturing capacity could be mothballed unless power prices quickly return to normal levels.
The energy intensive nature of these manufacturing processes is leading some operators to temporarily close or abandon production facilities as the cost of doing business escalates. Unless prices turn around soon, Europe’s plans to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels by boosting installed renewable generation capacity and electric vehicle (EV) usage could be derailed.
“High power prices not only pose a significant threat to European decarbonization efforts but could also result in increased reliance on overseas manufacturing, something governments are eager to avoid. Building a reliable domestic low-carbon supply chain is essential if the continent is going to stick to its goals, including the REPowerEU plan, but as things stand, that is in serious jeopardy.”
The day that Europe died - BASF announces "permanent" output reductions
Breaking news: BASF has announced they are partially shuttering operations in Germany and moving capacity to China.
Today is the pivot point. Europe dies from here forward, and it doesn't recover for generations. It's done. Almost nobody realizes this yet, but the dominoes are already falling.
Europe is rapidly plunging into a continent on a collision course with total collapse: no industry, no supply chains, no energy, no metals, no fertilizer and no food. The "first world" status of Europe will be a distant memory after just 2-3 winters without food and energy, and once Europe's industrial infrastructure is shuttered, there's no easy way to bring it back online.
This is going to end in mass civil unrest, famine, pandemics and WAR. It will also see revolutions and the toppling of governments, currencies and entire economies. The house of cards is coming down.
Four million people across Ukraine have been hit by power cuts due to Russia’s bombing campaign, Zelenskyy has said.
In his evening address, Zelenskyy stressed the whole country was suffering the consequences of the Russian campaign.
“About 4 million Ukrainians face restrictions now” from the rolling blackouts, he said. “We are doing everything so that the state has the opportunity to reduce such blackouts.”
[Zalenskyy can sell his home in Miami for 30- 40 million, and ease the effect the outages are having on the population]
Energy Update: National Grid Cuts Bills To Reward Reduced Consumption
4 November: Smart Meters Needed To Join Scheme To Fight Blackouts
Households and businesses with smart meters could be rewarded with discounts on their bills this winter if they reduce their electricity consumption during peak hours, under a scheme launched in England, Scotland and Wales today, writes Candiece Cyrus.
The launch of the scheme follows a warning from the ESO last month that it may need to enforce power cuts if demand for energy outstrips supply this winter, as the global energy crisis continues.
Gas and electricity bills 'nearly double in all EU capitals', new data reveals
Gas bills have soared 111% and electricity ones 69%, according to the latest figures from the Household Energy Price Index.
Averaged, these two figures mean an energy bill increase of 90% -- or nearly double -- compared to October 2021.
Pinpointing how the Russian invasion impacted energy prices, the authors said it had caused "uncertainty over energy security" and "reduced deliveries of Russian gas or [the] complete termination of supply".
Electricity bills in all EU capitals have increased by 69% while gas costs have increased by a "staggering" 111% compared to 2021, according to new figures. #EuropeNews
Clare supermarket receives eye-watering €20k electricity bill
A supermarket owner in Co. Clare, Ireland, has taken to social media to highlight her astonishing electricity bill, as the energy crisis continues to spiral out of control.
Flora Crowe, who helps to run the family-owned Crowe’s Gala Supermarket and Bakery in Co. Clare, received a €6,500 energy bill towards the end of 2021, which rose to €8,000 by the year’s end.
However, now a year later, the figure is very different.
“How’s your day going?” Crowe asked on Twitter, as she posted a photo of her €20,803.41 energy bill from Bord Gáis.
Many people reacted strongly to the post, with Independent Tipperary Councillor Séamie Morris asking “Oh my God – how are businesses going to stay open?”
Additionally, Dave Coughlan, who works with a manufacturing plant, posted his business’ gas bill, which amounted to an astonishing €131,876.
The futures market provides an outlook on market prices. Traders can trade a future delivery period there. Today’s prices on the forward market therefore reflect the expected average electricity price for the delivery period of the respective product. At the end of August 2022, the price for base-load delivery of electricity for the fourth quarter for Germany stood at 1,000 EUR/MWh. Prices for the fourth quarter have increased since the 60 per cent reduction in Russian gas supply through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in mid-June 2022.
