Although Germany is shutting down nuclear power plants and wants to do without coal, the future currency in the federal world of energy supply will be called electricity.
It will play an increasingly important role, and we're not just thinking about the automobile.
But also.
Demand is therefore more likely to increase than decrease, so it would be an advantage if the costs remained within a framework that people can bear.
Those people who see themselves exposed to price increases for raw materials for building, craftsmen's services, skis or bicycles, who have washed themselves and with whom the wage increases do not even begin to keep pace.
All those who are looking for or have to look for a new electricity supplier learn what such a framework looks like in a sobering way.
A few examples: In November, the provider Vattenfall signed a contract for 27 cents per kWh of household electricity; today it charges 42 cents.
The Munich utility Montana is doubling its tariff in expiring contracts to 46 cents these days.
In each case plus basic fee, of course.
And the consumer has to be happy about that, because the Munich public utility company is not currently offering any electricity tariffs “due to the sharp rise in procurement prices”, which a municipal utility in particular may find unabashed.
Frankfurt's Mainova is also currently not offering any tariffs online, and prospective customers can only hope for an individual conversation.
It's your own fault, no one was forced to choose a cheaper temporary provider, it is sometimes said.
Yes, but who knows what the tender little seedlings of competition are supposed to cherish.
In addition, diesel, heating oil, petrol, gas and pellets also cost more.
It's that easy to do.
Or face the truth.
People are falling into the energy price trap, and politicians have no other answer than full power to electric cars.
That will be expensive.