Negative price on the stock exchange: electricity providers pay customers money

Extreme junk prices for electricity on the exchange recently made some electricity customers rejoice: instead of having to pay, they received money for every kilowatt hour consumed. At the eastern German energy supplier EnviaM, the end customer price on May 11 was negative at up to -11.4 cents per kilowatt hour including all statutory levies, grid fees and distribution costs in the dynamic tariff from 12:00 to 15:00. The picture was similar for other electricity providers.

Negative exchange prices are not uncommon, for example when a lot of electricity from solar and wind power plants meets low demand. For example, on public holidays. According to the European electricity exchange Epex Spot, there were 459 hours with a negative price on the day-ahead market last year. This is where wholesale electricity is traded for the next day. On the spot market, the price of electricity slipped to as low as minus 25 cents per kilowatt hour on Mother's Day.

Dynamic tariffs linked to exchange electricity price

The fact that the end customer price also slips into the red is a special feature. This was the first time since the "Mein Strom Vision" tariff was introduced in February 2024, explained EnviaM spokeswoman Cornelia Sommerfeld when asked by dpa. But only temporarily: In the evening, the electricity price was back above 30 cents for these customers too.

The Chemnitz-based energy supplier Eins also speaks of a novelty. The price effect for customers varied depending on the zip code and was around 0 cents per kilowatt hour on the day between 12:00 and 14:00. For "competitive reasons", the company did not want to provide more precise information on how many customers use such a tariff and how they benefited from the low on the exchange. The provider Sachsenenergie was unable to provide any information.

Consumer advocates: risk prevails

Since the beginning of the year, electricity suppliers have had to offer dynamic tariffs that are linked to the short-term electricity exchange price. This requires smart electricity meters that transmit current consumption data. The number of such customers at electricity supplier EnviaM has been comparatively low to date. The company speaks of a "high three-digit customer base".

Consumer advocates are critical of such tariffs, as prices can skyrocket during a dark doldrums, for example. The electricity customer bears the risk. According to the website of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, they offer added value above all for households with high and flexible consumption over time, for example through electric cars, heat pumps or battery storage: "For 'normal' household customers, the risk of rising prices far outweighs the benefits."