CO₂ price and EU ETS — what does industry pay and what is in your bill?
The ETS price is what fossil producers pay per tonne of CO₂ — indirectly passed through to your electricity and gas bill. Mechanism explained.
EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) is the European emissions-rights system: heavy industry + power production + aviation must buy rights for each tonne of CO2 emitted. Price fluctuates around €60-€95/tonne in 2026, set by auction. For you as consumer: ETS raises the marginal cost of fossil electricity and gas — affects wholesale prices and ultimately your tariff. Estimated impact: +€100-€250/household/year on bare energy. Plus, from 2027 ETS-2 (homes + transport, delayed) — separate system for residential gas and transport fuels. ETS is the European lever to make fossil more expensive than sustainable. Not shown as its own line on your bill — embedded in the bare supply price. Compared to Dutch national CO2 levy (extra above ETS for industry): separate regulation.