Energy Cutoffs in Hamburg Triple as Rising Costs Strain Households

Over 6,100 households lost electricity in 2024, with water and gas disconnections also surging, sparking criticism of inadequate relief measures.

Hamburg saw 6,145 electricity disconnections in 2024, nearly tripling from 2,174 in 2023 due to unpaid bills.
Water disconnections nearly doubled to 549 cases, while gas cutoffs increased more than fivefold to 49 instances last year.
The city's hardship fund, established to prevent energy cutoffs, assisted only 75 cases before expiring in March 2024, drawing criticism for poor utilization.
The Left Party has called the return of energy disconnections to pre-pandemic levels 'alarming' and criticized the fund's design as out of touch with actual needs.
Proposals to address soaring energy costs include eliminating grid fees and implementing broader measures to support low-income households.