Gas Storage Neutrality Charge no longer levied

The Gas Storage Neutrality Charge has been abolished since 1 January 2026. The corresponding law abolishing the Gas Storage Neutrality Charge (Law Amending the Energy Industry Act and the Coal-Fired Power Generation Termination Act) was passed by the Bundestag on 6 November 2025 and came into force on 28 November. This levy meant that companies and private individuals had to contribute to the costs of filling gas storage facilities.

According to a statement by the Bundestag on 6 November 2025, the abolition of the Gas Storage Neutrality Charge is intended to reduce natural gas costs for companies and private households, thereby easing the burden on them. Instead, the federal government wants to offset a so-called levy account with 3.4 billion euros from the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF) – a special federal fund – by the end of 2025. According to the draft law, the levy accounts for around 2.4 per cent of the gas price for household customers and around five per cent for large customers.

The Gas Storage Neutrality Charge was introduced on 1 October 2022 in response to the rising cost and scarcity of natural gas supplies following the outbreak of the Ukraine war. The aim was to prevent a gas shortage and cover the costs of filling gas storage facilities in Germany. Since 1 July 2025, the Gas Storage Neutrality Charge has been EUR 2.89/MWh, as determined by Trading Hub Europe GmbH.