German Chancellor Links High Electricity Prices to Hasty Nuclear Phase-Out

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany's current high electricity prices are partly attributable to the hasty closure of nuclear power plants. He believes that Germany exited nuclear energy without adequate alternative solutions and now has to bear higher costs for subsequent energy supply arrangements.

In an interview, Merz said that the closure of Germany's nuclear plants was not his responsibility, "if it were up to me, I would not have done this." He noted that the decision has already been made, and the current government cannot change the established facts nor provide a legal guarantee for grid electricity prices over the next 15 years. Merz also mentioned that the impact of the Iran conflict is one of the factors driving up electricity prices.

Regarding electricity supply arrangements, Merz once again advocated for the construction of gas-fired power plants. He stated that tenders for the design and construction of these plants have been launched, the plan has been approved within the ruling coalition, and has received recognition from the European Union. Germany is now obligated to advance the construction of these plants.

Data previously released by the electricity price comparison platform Verivox shows that in the second quarter of 2026, Germany had the highest electricity prices among G20 members. The average household electricity price in Germany was 35.6 euro cents per kilowatt-hour, more than double the G20 average of approximately 16.3 euro cents. The platform believes that a relatively heavy tax and levy burden is one of the main reasons for Germany's high electricity prices.

On April 15, 2023, Germany disconnected its last three operating nuclear power units—Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2, and Emsland—from the grid. Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power was made in 2011 by the government led by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, against the backdrop of a shift in Germany's domestic energy policy following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan.