Malta had the third lowest average electricity price for households in the second half of 2014, figures released by Eurostat showed.

Malta was beaten only by Bulgaria and Hungary.

Expressed in euro, average household electricity prices in the second half of 2014 were lowest in Bulgaria (€9.0 per 100 kWh) and Hungary (€11.5) and highest in Denmark (€30.4) and Germany (€29.7).The average electricity price in the EU was €20.8 per 100 kWh. Malta averaged €12 per 100 kWh.

Across the EU Member States, the highest increase in household electricity prices in national currency between the second half of 2013 and the second half of 2014 was registered by far in France (+10.2%), followed by Luxembourg (+5.6%), Ireland (+5.4%), Greece (+5.2%), Portugal (+4.7%), the United Kingdom (+4.6%) and Spain (+4.1%).

In contrast, the most noticeable decrease was observed in Malta (-26.2%), well ahead of the Czech Republic (-10.2%), Hungary (-9.9%), the Netherlands (-9.6%), Slovakia (-9.2%) and Belgium (-7.8%).

Besides, the share of taxes and levies in total household electricity prices varied significantly between Member States, ranging from more than 50% in Denmark (57% of household electricity price is made up of taxes and levies) and Germany (52%) to 5% in both Malta and the United Kingdom in the second half of 2014.

On average in the EU, taxes and levies accounted for almost a third (32%) of household electricity prices.

In the European Union, household electricity prices rose by 2.9% on average between the second half of 2013 and the second half of 2014 to reach €20.8 per 100 kWh. Since 2008, electricity prices in the EU have increased by more than 30%.

Across the EU Member States, household electricity prices in the second half of 2014 ranged from €9 per 100 kWh in Bulgaria to more than €30 per 100 kWh in Denmark.