Gas Prices Surge in Germany as Iran War Disrupts Global Energy Markets
Gas prices for new residential customers in Germany have increased sharply in recent days, with the cheapest contracts rising by about 15 percent, according to an analysis by the comparison portal Verivox.
The company reported that the cheapest gas contracts across the country have increased by an average of 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour in a short period. According to Verivox, the rise is linked to higher wholesale gas prices caused by the ongoing war in Iran and tensions affecting global energy markets.
In February 2026, households consuming around 20,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of gas per year paid an average of about 8.2 cents per kWh for the cheapest tariff with a twelve-month price guarantee. That price has now climbed to approximately 9.4 cents per kWh nationwide.
Verivox energy expert تورستن شتورك said existing customers are unlikely to face immediate price increases because many contracts still have fixed price guarantees. However, uncertainty over a possible prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the current surge in wholesale gas costs have already pushed prices higher for new customers.
According to Verivox, gas prices in the Grundversorgung (basic supply tariff) have not increased so far and averaged about 13.4 cents per kWh in March. Meanwhile, natural gas traded in Europe has become roughly 65 percent more expensive since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February, severely disrupting global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas) transport routes through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.