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Family of four in a house vs All-electric family house: Electricity Use Compared in Germany (2026)
Switching the same family from gas heating and hot water to electric can double or triple the electricity bill, even though the appliances have not changed. Heating is the largest energy use in any home, and moving it onto the electricity meter dwarfs everything else. Whether the total energy cost goes up depends on gas prices and on whether the electric heating is a heat pump or resistance.
In Germany, family of four in a house uses about 3,800 kWh a year (€117.17 a month) and all-electric family house about 4,700 kWh (€144.92 a month). That is 1.2× as much, or €27.75 more per month. Per person: 950 kWh vs 1,175 kWh a year.
Sources: Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 4 persons, house. Stromspiegel für Deutschland (co2online, with the Federal Ministry for the Environment), average consumption by persons and building type: 4 persons, house, electric hot water. Priced at €0.37 per kWh (BDEW Strompreisanalyse August 2026, 2026-08).
Where the difference comes from
| Category | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heating | 0 kWh | 900 kWh | +900 |
| Refrigeration & freezing | 380 kWh | 380 kWh | +0 |
| Cooking | 380 kWh | 380 kWh | +0 |
| Washing, drying & dishwashing | 494 kWh | 494 kWh | +0 |
| TV, computing & network | 1,102 kWh | 1,102 kWh | +0 |
| Lighting | 456 kWh | 456 kWh | +0 |
| Other appliances | 988 kWh | 988 kWh | +0 |
- In the all-electric home, heating and hot water are typically half to two-thirds of the electricity bill.
- A heat pump cuts that heating share by half or more compared with resistance heating.
- The appliance part of the bill is the same in both houses; only the heating line changes.
Only in the all-electric family house
- None
Only in the family of four in a house
- None
The same comparison in other countries
| Country | Family of four in a house | All-electric family house | Ratio | Extra per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (average) | 13,072 | 13,073 | 1.0× | $0.015 |
| United Kingdom | 3,800 | 6,100 | 1.6× | £49.83 |
| Germany | 3,800 | 4,700 | 1.2× | €27.75 |
| France | 6,034 | 13,290 | 2.2× | €120.93 |
| Australia | 7,311 | 7,311 | 1.0× | A$0.000 |
| Canada (average) | 12,694 | 17,750 | 1.4× | C$58.99 |