Germany/Housing/Gas

If this is in your apartment, it is heated by gas.

If your apartment is heated by gas & you don't sublet from someone but rent an apartment on your name, you likely need make a contract with a gas provider. Read here how to find, compare & sign up with one.

Note that you can make a contract with any German provider, no matter where you live. So even if you live in Berlin, you can make a contract with a provider from Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, or Munich.

Questions & Answers

When do I need a gas provider?

• If you rent (or buy) an apartment or house directly from a landlord
• and your place uses local gas heating. To find out
  • ask your landlord, or
  • check if you have the things seen in the photo above in your flat.

You usually don't need a gas contract

• if you rent your apartment or room with an "all-inclusive" contract like via Airbnb or similar.

If in doubt, ask your landlord.

How to make a contract with a gas supplier?

1. Estimate your consumption with the table below.
2. Pick a provider or comparison service from the list below.
3. Enter your postal code and estimated consumption to get offers for you.

How do I get billed for my gas consumption?

• Based on your consumption estimation, they calculate a monthly prepayment rate for you. Pay that rate now every month.
• After a year (usually), they measure your actual consumption.
  • If you used less than your estimation, you will get money back and your monthly prepayment rate will be lowered.
  • If you used more than your estimation, you will need to pay the difference and your monthly prepayment rate will be raised.

Average Consumption Rates

To estimate your gas consumption, you can go by average consumptions per year of German households, as shown in the tables below. There are average numbers

• for water heating by number of people in the household
• plus by apartment size.

Household size	Average gas consumption for water heating
1 person	600-800 kWh
2 person	1200-1600 kWh
3 person	1800-2400 kWh
4 person	2400-3200 kWh

Apartment size	Average gas consumption for room heating
30m²	3,800 kWh
50m²	5,000 kWh
100m²	12,000 kWh
150m²	18,000 kWh
terrace house	20,000 kWh
single-family house	35,000 kWh

Find a Gas Provider

List of German Gas Providers

Common German gas providers with their Trustpilot rating:

• 4.5
  Vattenfall
• 3
  lekker
• 3
  Polarstern
• 3
  eprimo – Video guide on how to sign up
• 1.5
  LEW

Compare German Gas Providers

Instead of comparing offers yourself, you can use a comparison service. Enter your postal code & estimated consumption, and get a list of offers.

• 5
  Check24 Gas Comparison

Notes