Energy Costs in Europe

[EdytaHome]

Everyone be happy!
In Europe gas is and has been, for a long time, at over $5.00/gal. Energy costs are very high, electricity and natural gas are very expensive here.
Example,
I go upstairs in my parents home in Poland, I turn the light on when I walk up the stairs, when I get to the top of the stairs I turn it off and turn on the hall light, when I get to the bedroom I turn off the hall light and turn on the bedroom light. No light is left on when the room/location is not in use. Same with water. You go to wash your hands, you turn on the water to wet your hands, you turn off the water, you soap up, you turn the water on to rinse. And so on...

People here are very energy conscious and save, save, save on energy... We Americans have gotten spoiled of low gas prices and low energy costs resulting in waste.
Just a thought.

[Genenco]

I tend to disagree.

Make no mistake: the price of the raw gas is about the same as the U.S., but Europe taxes gasoline at a higher rate. At the moment, taxes in France make up about 70 percent of the pump price. For comparison, the U.S. federal gasoline tax of of 2005 was 18.4 cents per gallon, with each State adding between 10 and 33 cents of tax, according to Widipedia. That makes the maximum gasoline tax rate 17% in the U.S.

I don't know about the electricity or propane, but it's more then likely heavily taxed also.

[sunshine08]

Can't believe that there aren't other responses to this.

Me, personally, I live on a fixed income, even most retirees get a cost of living raise etc. ( I am 15 years from retiring, if they don't keep rasising the age limit)I have had a "bonus" of $500 this year, but in the last few we have been given bonus vacation or nothing. Prices are only going up, my income isn't. I was raised to be conscious of waste. I can do a mean leftover. My point is that we have to get to work, to the store, to the dr., be warm in the winter, etc., there are areas that we can economize in and cut out waste, but when I see gas companies brag about this quarters profits, it burns me a new one.

[Lightning]

What does it matter if high energy taxes is the reason for high energy costs in France? The fact is it costs more, so people use less. Same thing will happen here. In some cases, it already has. How well do you think Hummer dealerships are doing these days? Don't you think twice before making an extra trip to the store? Rather than drive the Tahoe to dinner, maybe you take the Camry instead.

The American way of life is based on cheap oil. Look where you live in relation to where you work. Look in your driveway. Look at the size of your house.

Our economy is based on free enterprise. Oil companies have the right to earn a profit. They're producing a product virtually everyone in this country needs. Do you really believe the country would be a better place if everyone earned the same income regardless of effort, education, and ingenuity?

[EdytaHome]

Precisely my point, if gas prices were higher in the states, people would be driving smaller cars, regardless of the gas tax. If energy costs were higher people would be forced to be more energy conscious and not so wasteful.

Now this may hurt.
If income taxes were higher (Europe on average 50% of income) than we wouldn't have to worry so much about retirement and illness, because the government would give back more to those in need.

Just my two cents.