Merkel's decision to abandon nuclear power following last year's Fukushima disaster has led to a growing need for alternative energy sources, and that has led to higher charges tagged on to consumers' energy bills.
Opposition parties say that the government is letting private consumers bear the brunt, after it exempted energy-intensive industry from green energy and network usage tariffs.
Germany’s surcharge for renewable energy will rise to 5.3 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2013 from 3.6 cents in 2012, Germany's four leading high voltage network operators said on Monday (15 October).
Overall, the so-called 'Umlage' will reach €20.36 billion next year, the operators said.
Coming a year ahead of a federal election in which Merkel will seek a third term, the sharp rise in energy duties has become a major issue, potentially forcing the government to find ways to limit costs for consumers.
It has also opened divisions in the coalition with the Free Democrats (FDP), a junior partner to Merkel's conservatives, which calls for steeper cuts in government-mandated incentives, and a more sweeping reform of the renewable energy law.
The four network operators are 50Hertz, owned by Belgian Elia and Australian fund IFM; E.ON's former high voltage grid unit TenneT; RWE's former unit Amprion, and EnBW's grid unit TransnetBW.
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