Strom ist (und bleibt) zu teuer #404 REFRESH | bto – der Ökonomie-Podcast von Dr. Daniel Stelter

In early July 2026, after ten hours of negotiations, the coalition committee of the German federal government (a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party) adopted 34 measures to promote competitiveness, reduce bureaucracy, provide tax relief, and implement reforms to pensions and the labor market. Not a word was said about the core problem facing German industry – electricity prices. The situation is not new. However, its urgency is increasing. High electricity prices in Germany have proven to be a significant competitive disadvantage and are negatively impacting the competitiveness of companies. Daniel Stelter discussed precisely this issue in October 2023 with energy economist Dr. Lion Hirth, Professor of Energy Policy at the Hertie School in Berlin. Hirth's analysis in episode #213, "Electricity Remains Expensive," was sober and emphatic: The market is not showing us a quick return to the low prices of the 2010s. And politicians are confusing treating the symptoms with a solution. Two and a half years later, the diagnosis has not only been confirmed. The price has not only failed to fall, it has risen. ```````````````````````````)```````)````)```)``)`)`)`)`)] ... A current analysis clarifies why this conversation is even more important today than it was then. The central questions: Why has electricity become so expensive in the first place? What effect does the merit order have on the price? What does the futures market say? How many backup power plants do we really need – and who pays for them? Time for a bto REFRESH! Note: `COLLAPSE – How We Save Germany: The new book by Daniel Stelter. Now available wherever books are sold. Also available to order from Thalia (https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artik..., Amazon (https://amzn.eu/d/0h7e5Sg6), geniallokal (https://www.genialokal.de/Produkt/Dan....` ``` Listener Service Analysis Catalyzing Competitiveness — Where Investment Happens and Why by the McKinsey Global Institute (June 2026; Industrial Electricity Prices p. 38, Exhibit 16; Steel Analysis pp. 87–91): https://tinyurl.com/wx7ckjp6 (https://tinyurl.com/wx7ckjp6) Beyond the Obvious – New analyses, commentaries, and assessments of the economic and financial situation can be found at think-bto.com (http://www.think-bto.com/). Newsletter – Subscribe to the monthly bto newsletter here (https://think-beyondtheobvious.com/ne.... Editorial Contact – We welcome your opinions, suggestions, and criticism at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). Handelsblatt – A little more breathing room this summer? Now is the perfect time to give your knowledge a competitive edge – with Handelsblatt. It provides you with reliable facts, exclusive background information, and clear analysis of economic developments. Our summer special makes getting started incredibly easy: For just €1, you get 6 weeks of full access to all digital content. Secure this special offer at handelsblatt.com/sommer26 (http://handelsblatt.com/sommer26) Advertising partners – You can find more information about the offers from our current advertising partners here (https://think-beyondtheobvious.com/we.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.