The price of electricity in Spain during this crisis has risen by 52%; double the European average during the same period.

This increase means that Spain has the fourth highest electricity rates in Europe with Denmark, Germany and Ireland coming in 1st, 2nd and 3rd highest.

In effect, from the third quarter of 2008 to the same period in 2014 the price of a megawatt hour rose by 81 euros, whereas the European average was 42 euros.

If you’re interested in the figures for other countries: in France it rose by 46%, in Germany, 35%, in the UK by 26% and in Italy by 5%.

This information was drawn up in a report by David Robinson from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, which not only encompassed Europe, but also the United States.

Another interesting point that this report contained was that 73% of the Spanish increase was due to taxes and other charges levied on the price of electricity, principally to cover government policies; i.e., green tax to subsidize the renewable energy sector.

If it were not for these extra charges levied upon the price of electricity here in Spain, we would be in the 11th slot, rather than the 4th.

As for industrial rates, Spain’s prices double those of the United States.

Conclusion: We receive electricity bills through the door that even nuclear scientist cannot decipher and prices that vary by the hour which you have to look up the day before on Internet to work out when to put the washing machine on.

(News: Spain)