Europe's gas storage was only around 71% full at the end of September 2026, the lowest level at this time of year in at least five years. In some countries it was far lower: in Germany, storage was only 57.9% full on 1 October. Wholesale gas prices reached their highest level since early 2023 in September. That feeds through to what you pay for heating.
EU gas storage was around 71% full in the fourth week of September 2026. Storage operators report their levels every day to AGSI+, the platform run by Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Here's how that compares with the same point in previous years:
Some countries are well below the EU average. In mid-September, storage stood at 47.1% in Latvia, 52.1% in the Netherlands and 55.6% in Germany. Under EU rules, countries can reach their 90% storage target any time between 1 October and 1 December, with extra flexibility when filling is difficult.
You can follow daily figures for each country on AGSI+.
An immediate shortage isn't expected. Low reserves combined with tight global supply do leave Europe more exposed to a very cold winter or new supply disruptions.
Wholesale gas prices in Europe follow the TTF, the trading hub in the Netherlands. Before the war between the US and Iran, a megawatt hour cost around €30 there. In early September the price briefly rose above €80, its highest level since early 2023.
Several factors are pushing prices up:
You'll notice higher gas prices when your supplier raises your tariff. A fixed-price contract can protect you until it ends, so check your terms. How quickly suppliers pass on wholesale prices varies a lot across Europe: on average it takes about six months, in the Netherlands it happens almost immediately, in France, Italy and Spain within months, and in Germany and Austria it can take nearly a year for prices to peak.
Gas is still the largest single energy source in European homes. In 2024, natural gas covered 29.4% of household energy use in the EU. In some countries the share is far higher: 61.0% in the Netherlands, 49.2% in Italy and 46.3% in Hungary.
If you heat with gas, the biggest lever you have on your heating bill is how much gas you use.
Turning the heating down by 1 °C cuts heating energy use by around 7%.
Indoor temperatures vary widely. Homes in Hungary, Slovakia and Denmark average around 20 °C or more, while homes in the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland stay below the 18 °C the WHO recommends for healthy adults. German homes sit just above 19 °C, which adds an estimated €85 a winter compared with 18 °C.
Yes. A smart thermostat controls your heating automatically, so it only heats when and where you need warmth. Smart automations help you use less energy without giving up comfort.
Smart thermostats like tado° are easy to retrofit. tado° customers save 22% on heating costs on average. How much you save depends on your home, your heating system and your habits.
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EU gas storage was around 71% full at the end of September 2026, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe. Some countries were much lower, such as Latvia at 47.1% and the Netherlands at 52.1% in mid-September. At the end of September 2023, the EU figure was 95%. Daily figures are published on AGSI+.
The European wholesale price (TTF) was around €30 per megawatt hour before the war between the US and Iran and briefly rose above €80 in early September 2026, its highest level since early 2023. The causes are disrupted LNG shipments from the Persian Gulf, low storage levels and competition with Asia for liquefied natural gas.
That depends on your contract and where you live. According to an Oxford Economics estimate, wholesale price changes take about six months on average to reach consumer prices in the EU, from almost immediately in the Netherlands to nearly a year in Germany and Austria. A fixed-price contract delays the increase. Using less gas is the one lever that lowers your costs either way.
Most savings come from heat nobody uses. Heat only the rooms you're in, turn the temperature down when the home is empty and keep the bedroom a little cooler than the living room. According to the European Commission, each degree lower cuts heating energy use by around 7%.
