The study compares electricity costs for large and medium-sized industrial consumers across seven European countries: the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, the UK, Spain and Sweden. It provides insights into the factors shaping industrial electricity costs and highlights key differences between the countries analysed.

What does the study examine?

The report analyses effective electricity costs across different industrial consumer profiles. In addition to electricity procurement costs, it considers the impact of network charges, taxes, levies, exemptions and compensation mechanisms, including indirect cost compensation (ICC) and CISAF.

The study also examines cost developments between 2025 and 2026 and provides an outlook on the expected development of industrial electricity costs towards 2030.

Key findings

The results show considerable differences in effective electricity costs across Europe:

• Industrial consumers in the Netherlands continue to face a significant cost disadvantage, mainly due to high network charges and limited exemptions.
• France, Spain and Sweden show comparatively low electricity costs across all assessed consumer types.
• In Germany and several other countries, very large industrial consumers benefit significantly from compensation mechanisms and reductions in network charges. This creates a substantial cost gap compared with medium-sized consumers.
• Increased demand flexibility can significantly reduce electricity procurement costs, while its impact on network charges, taxes and levies remains limited.
• Germany is the only country assessed that has introduced a support mechanism based on CISAF.
• Network tariff structures vary considerably across Europe, ranging from capacity-based and time-dependent charges to location-based tariffs.

Overall, the benchmark highlights the significant influence of network tariffs, exemptions and compensation mechanisms on industrial electricity costs and competitiveness.

We would like to thank the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate for its trust and collaboration. E-Bridge will also carry out the 2027 update of the report, continuing the annual international comparison.

Contact: Gerald Blumberg, Christopher Kneip, Dr. Christina Kockel, Aiman Khan

For more information, please refer to the study: Elektriciteitskosten industrie | Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal