Thinking "outside the box" British energy prices Vs comparable markets

AlvyLad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030641#Comment_82030641

The differences between the UK and Spain have been pointed out to you, as have the similarities in pricing between uk and Germany, which is a much more similar country.

If you compare across all of Europe youll see the UK is far from the most expensive, especially if you adjust for purchasing power and average wages.

https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/11/13/electricity-and-gas-prices-across-europe-which-countries-are-the-most-expensive

"Electricity is cheapest in Turkey, priciest in Germany

In the first half of 2025, electricity prices for households ranged from €6.2 per 100 kWh in Turkey to €38.4 in Germany, Eurostat figures show. The average for the 38 European countries, including EU members, candidate nations and EFTA states, stood at €28.7.

Western Europe recorded the highest nominal prices, with Belgium (€35.7) and Denmark (€34.9) close behind Germany. Prices also exceeded €30 in Italy, Ireland and Czechia.

By contrast, most Eastern European and EU candidate countries reported far lower rates.

Electricity cost under €10 per 100 kWh in Turkey, Georgia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Among EU members, Hungary (€10.4) had the lowest electricity price, while Spain (€26.1) and France (€26.6) remained below the EU average.

Experts at consultancy VaasaETT said the differences reflect factors such as national energy mixes, supplier strategies, cross-subsidies and tariff structures."

Could be just me, but differences doesn't make sense regardless…

AlvyLad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030655#Comment_82030655

(Hope NOT. Seriously, what practical, even if missing the subject of discussion lets say "British consumer energy price difference to other countries" could it have? do you have an opinion to share with us?)

I mean, we've got OFGEM, that supposed to be helping us, regulate our market- costs, when in other countries is bit of a crazy lottery, how much what would the same 1 kWh would cost based on location, locally set charges and for us to end up with near highest costs, like Germany, that's gone "completely green" (no nuclear power, burning russian gas is fine! lol)?

We've got green (wind and solar), we've got nuclear, we burn gas, we trade with other countries, yet we pay the near highest prices…

Time permitting, I'll get dig bit further in to Spanish Energy system, G2G now, cheers!

Arunmor

So where is the "Thinking out of the box" element in your post?

Have you seen the CfD prices on the AR7? They will be guaranteed for the next 20 years. You then have to add the hundreds of miles of transmission infrastructure and BESS.

We should have stuck with more gas and coal than we have helped by some chunky nuclear.

Qyburn

The relevance of the smart meter comment is that a UK customer, choosing not to take advantage of the best pricing, is bound to compare less favourable with other countries.

QrizB

Have you seen the CfD prices on the AR7?

Almost 7GW of offshore wind for England and Wales, at £91.20 per MWh (2024 cost basis). Another 1.4GW of offshore wind for Scotland was priced at £89.49 per MWh.

That seems quite reasonable.

The England and Wales windfarms will avoid the Scotland-to-England interconnector congestion.

We should have stuck with more gas and coal than we have …

I don't have a current LCOE estimate for gas, but in 2023 (on a 2021 cost basis) is was around £114 per MWh.

… helped by some chunky nuclear.

Hinkley Point C has an agreed price of £92.50 per MWh on a 2012 cost basis, which is ~£129 in 2024 money. That's around 1/3rd more expensive than AR7's offshore wind.

born_again

I guess if you are not happy with UK pricing. Then the answer is to emigrate to one of these perceived cheaper countries.

As life is not just about energy, you have to factor in all the other cost of living expenses.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82029685#Comment_82029685

… and of course they are effectively mandatory in Spain and France which explains how some of their energy costs can be lower as the tariffs can use smart features like load limiting.

TroubledTarts

Approx 95% of consumers have smart meters in France and 99% in Spain.

Yes, if everyone has smart meters the average cost of UK electricity will come down.

Currently (edited ty @QrizB) 17.5 million UK households are still on the SVT Standard Variable Tariff and that will be effecting the average cost of UK electricity when comparing to our foreign counterparts.

QrizB

Currently 22 million UK households are still on the SVT Standard Variable Tariff

That sounds quite high?

Ofgem puts it at about 55% of households:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news-and-insight/data/data-portal/retail-market-indicators

As there are roughly 30 million domestic electricity meters, if we assume one per household (ignoring the effect of households with 2+ meters) 55% would be closer 17.5 million SVT customers?

Arunmor

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031110#Comment_82031110

"That seems quite reasonable."

Not if you add in all the extra costs that come along with renewables which you haven't mentioned or the fact that gas power stations do not operate efficiently anymore. Nor is gas prices helped by our pan European war with Russia and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines