The highest increase in electricity prices in the EU last year was registered in Malta and the UK, according to a Eurostat survey.

At the same time, electricity prices fell by 17 per cent in Estonia.

According to the survey, reported in the latest issue of the Italian magazine Panorama, the Danes pay the highest rates in the EU – e24.56 per 100 kWh, followed by The Netherlands and Italy in third place.

The EU average is euro 14.52 per 100 kWh of which e3.39 are taxes. Italians pay e21.08 per 100 kWh plus 26.6 per cent taxes, or e5.6.

Maltese pay euro 10.34 per 100 kWh plus the lowest tax rate in Europe, e0.49.

Estonians pay the cheapest rates – e6.90 per 100 kWh.

The Eurostat survey found that European families are paying seven per cent more for electricity than they used to a year ago.