--- title: Climate-Fuelled Heatwave Adds €700m to Electricity Bills in France and Germany date: 2026-07-01T08:07:31Z modified: 2026-07-01T08:07:31Z permalink: "https://350.org/press-release/climate-fuelled-heatwave-adds-e700m-to-electricity-bills-in-france-and-germany/" type: press-release status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 175531260 author: kimbryan --- The climate-fuelled heatwave in Europe has added more than €700 million to electricity bills in France and Germany alone in just one week according to new estimates and analysis by [350.org](http://350.org). Heatwaves have a well-known record to drive up electricity consumption and prices. Comparing 21–27 June 2026 as the heatwave window against a baseline of 14–20 June, the analysis shows that electricity prices have risen substantially as heatwaves drive up demand for cooling. Heatwaves in Europe have historically driven electricity demand and prices upwards, in particular in residual hours such as the early evening. For instance, the analysis shows that in **Germany**, **power prices** swung from **€**86 per **megawatt-hour** at midday to **€**566/**MWh** at 8pm last week. The 350.org analysis is based on EUenergy electricity price and load data. It calculates the heatwave-related wholesale cost premium as the difference between total system costs during the heatwave: **_Σ (observed load × observed price) − Σ (baseline load × baseline price)_** The recent heatwave has broken records and tragically led to 1,300 excess deaths across Europe, besides tremendous public health, agriculture, and infrastructure burdens. In addition, heatwave-related energy price spikes are further straining European households. Households, services and industry in two of Europe’s major economies have together spent an estimated €731 million more in additional electricity costs (Germany: €371 million; France €360 million) from June 21-27. These extra costs also come on top of elevated oil and gas prices due to the ongoing crisis at the Strait of Hormuz. **Andreas Sieber,** [**350.org**](http://350.org) **Head of Political Strategy, said:** _“This climate induced heatwave has been deadly, disruptive and costly. People are suffering, schools are closing, public infrastructure is straining, and some are losing their lives. Now, on top of the fossil-fuel price shock triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, extreme heat is adding hundreds of millions in extra electricity-system costs and likely billions across Europe. Fossil fuel companies continue to profit from the crises they helped create. Governments should permanently tax excess fossil fuel profits and use the money to protect people from heat, bills and energy shocks.”_ [350.org](http://350.org) is calling for a permanent windfall tax on oil and gas profits to fund climate adaptation and a just energy transition. _“Stronger taxation on fossil fuel companies could pay for better equipping countries to deal with extreme weather, as well as moving us faster to renewables. European governments must act now to save lives and lower energy bills.”_ **Notes to the Editor:** The 350.org analysis is based on EUenergy electricity price and load data. It calculates the heatwave-related wholesale cost premium as the difference between total system costs during the heatwave: **_Σ (observed load × observed price) − Σ (baseline load × baseline price)_** - **Heatwave window:** **21–27 June 2026**. **Baseline:** **14–20 June 2026**, to keep weekday and weekend patterns comparable, weekdays were matched in comparison: So 21 June is compared with 14 June, 22 June with 15 June, etc. **Germany** | **Heatwave date** | **Observed price** | **Avg load** | **Baseline date** | **Baseline price** | **Avg load** | **Daily premium** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 21 Jun | €83.00/MWh | 44,011 MW | 14 Jun | €25.12/MWh | 45,968 MW | €60.0m | | 22 Jun | €124.09/MWh | 54,033 MW | 15 Jun | €74.26/MWh | 55,472 MW | €62.1m | | 23 Jun | €174.91/MWh | 54,878 MW | 16 Jun | €113.08/MWh | 55,326 MW | €80.2m | | 24 Jun | €207.84/MWh | 54,480 MW | 17 Jun | €117.63/MWh | 54,806 MW | €117.0m | | 25 Jun | €133.54/MWh | 53,670 MW | 18 Jun | €139.92/MWh | 52,239 MW | -€3.4m | | 26 Jun | €135.11/MWh | 53,272 MW | 19 Jun | €108.18/MWh | 51,179 MW | €39.9m | | 27 Jun | €99.42/MWh | 46,432 MW | 20 Jun | €87.47/MWh | 45,398 MW | €15.5m | **_Source:_** [_https://euenergy.live/germany_](https://euenergy.live/germany) **France** | **Heatwave date** | **Observed price** | **Avg load** | **Baseline date** | **Baseline price** | **Avg load** | **Daily premium** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 21 Jun | €61.62/MWh | 40,944 MW | 14 Jun | €27.83/MWh | 37,973 MW | €35.2m | | 22 Jun | €106.80/MWh | 48,996 MW | 15 Jun | €75.84/MWh | 43,724 MW | €46.0m | | 23 Jun | €136.12/MWh | 51,394 MW | 16 Jun | €95.51/MWh | 44,173 MW | €66.6m | | 24 Jun | €157.87/MWh | 52,352 MW | 17 Jun | €98.32/MWh | 45,534 MW | €90.9m | | 25 Jun | €116.02/MWh | 52,291 MW | 18 Jun | €93.90/MWh | 46,998 MW | €39.7m | | 26 Jun | €127.23/MWh | 51,531 MW | 19 Jun | €83.68/MWh | 48,406 MW | €60.1m | | 27 Jun | €88.03/MWh | 46,256 MW | 20 Jun | €73.02/MWh | 43,397 MW | €21.7m | **_Source:_** _https://euenergy.live/france_