Austrian electricity market liberalization saved 15 billion euros

A study by the Austrian Energy Agency (AEA), commissioned by Oesterreichs Energie, indicates that the liberalization of the Austrian electricity market since October 2001 has resulted in cumulative savings of over 15 billion euros for households and businesses.

According to the modeling, private households saved approximately 12.7 billion euros between 2001 and 2025, representing an average price reduction of 16.3 percent compared to a hypothetical scenario without market opening. Non-household customers saw a total benefit of 2.5 billion euros.

The report also highlights broader economic impacts, noting that the liberalization contributed to more competition in generation and supply, as well as lower network fees. Additionally, the study suggests the market opening had a positive effect on GDP and a dampening effect on inflation through 2022.