Electricity costs via citizen's money: Single people pay up to 147 euros more!

Electricity costs via citizen's money: Single people pay up to 147 euros more!

In the current situation, the issue of electricity costs for citizens' benefit recipients has once again come into focus. Especially for 2026, the monthly flat rate of 563 euros for single people will remain in place, but this is still not enough to cover the actual energy costs. Loud n-tv On average, recipients receive only 45.70 euros per month for electricity, while the real cost for households that use 1,500 kWh annually is around 50.33 euros.

The difference of 6 euros per month, which is still needed to cover the actual costs, represents a burden for many of those affected. Even if the shortfall has been reduced quite significantly compared to previous years - from 129 euros in 2024 to 74 euros in 2025 - this still remains an annoying point for people living alone. It is particularly emphasized that in some regions, such as Hamburg, the expenses are even 27% higher than the flat rate, with a deficit of a whopping 147 euros per year. Mind you, Bremen stands out positively and has annual electricity costs that are 16 euros below the planned flat rate.

Regional differences

The regional differences are particularly interesting, as they further fuel the discussion about the need to adjust the flat rates. While the costs are relatively reasonable in Bremen, citizens' benefit recipients in federal states such as Saarland (+101 euros), Baden-Württemberg (+98 euros) and North Rhine-Westphalia (+80 euros) have to pay significantly more for electricity than the state provides.
Like the analysis of buerger-geld.org shows, it is recommended to compare electricity providers and change if necessary; New customers can often achieve significant savings.

But it's not just the rising electricity prices that are causing problems for those affected, the way in which these costs are taken into account in the standard citizen's benefit rate is also causing frustration. The electricity costs are anchored in the flat rate, which means that any additional payments or increased costs must be financed from other areas of the standard rate. It becomes particularly problematic if the budget for food or clothing also suffers. For many people, applying for a loan from the job center is the last resort when back payments are extremely high.

Options for action for those affected

To mitigate the storm of additional costs, experts recommend switching providers regularly or asking for support in good time if you have high energy bills. It remains an essential task for those responsible to improve the framework conditions for this.
For many people, it is simply no longer possible to make ends meet with citizens' money, as they have to access parts of the standard set that are already intended for other necessities of life. A circumstance that should be urgently reconsidered in order to reduce the burden on the most disadvantaged.

Strengthening citizens' money and adjusting flat rates are obviously necessary so that the affected households can cover their energy costs and at the same time lead a dignified life. What is certain is that the discussion about this will continue to occupy us.