Recently, nobody in Europe had to spend more of their income on electricity than the citizens of the Czech capital Prague.

At 52.15 cents per kilowatt hour, the average electricity costs there in July were still higher than those charged in London at 51.85 cents – measured in purchasing power parities.

The income-weighted index, compiled by the Austrian and Hungarian energy market regulators, compares electricity costs in Europe's capital cities.

In Berlin it was 36 cents.

Andreas Mihm

Business correspondent for Austria, Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey based in Vienna.

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Philip Pickert

Business correspondent based in London.

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Christian Schubert

Economic correspondent for Italy and Greece.

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Even without income weighting, the Czechs were behind London and Copenhagen at 41 cents per kilowatt hour, but far ahead of their eastern neighbors, with whom one usually compares oneself: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary.

This is one of the reasons why the government in Prague passed a relief package for an "energy-saving tariff" worth 7 billion euros.

That is 3 percent of the gross domestic product.

The core is an automatic subsidy for the electricity bill, later the gas and heat bill are also taken into account.

An average of 15,000 crowns (600 euros) is available per household for the heating season, of which 160 euros are to flow in the autumn.

A web calculator can be used to determine how much government aid is available, and there are also tips for saving energy.

Companies get nothing, but benefit from the cancellation of the surcharge for the expansion of renewable energies.

Objective: State control of the electricity market

This is likely to further increase the Czech Republic's national debt.

However, the government is considering compensating “crisis profiteers” with an excess profit tax.

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura named energy companies as well as banks.

The state holds 70 percent of the largest electricity producer, ČEZ.

ČEZ is one of the largest electricity exporters in Europe and is currently making a lot of money with nuclear and coal-fired power.

A record dividend has been announced.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala wants more: "Our goal is to bring the production and pricing of electricity under state control."

In other countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe, too, the state is helping with grants against rising costs.

Austerity appeals, such as that of the Albanian infrastructure minister Belinda Balluku, to choose the gentle cycle at 30 degrees when washing, are the exception.

Russia is even closer to some people

Poland has passed tax cuts on energy, petrol and staple foods.

Because of the sharp rise in the price of coal, households will receive a one-time cash injection of 3,000 zlotys (630 euros) so that it doesn't get cold in winter.

The government is spending 50 billion zloty (10.5 billion euros) to curb energy prices.

The package also includes a freeze on mortgage rates – at the expense of the banks.

Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is proud of his close contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin (gas, oil, nuclear power), is dampening the rise in prices at the expense of the oil companies.

In Hungary, fuel prices for residents have been capped at 480 forints (1.18 euros) per liter since November.

The sharp increase in gas and electricity prices has led the government to lower the maximum price for electricity bills in retail too.

Fuel may not be exported, but more can be cut down again.