Difference between revisions of "Germany/Housing/Electricity"

Revision as of 12:35, 20 July 2020

Don't want to figure this out on your own? Then contact our free service CleverExpat for advice.

You usually don't need an electricity contract

Find out whether your warm water is heated by
- your own electricity,
- or instead by gas or even delivered from your landlord (central heating)
Estimate your consumption. Typical:
- 1-person household: 1600 kWh (no water heating) / 2100 kWh (with water heating)
- 2-person household: 2300 kWh (no water heating) / 3400 kWh (with water heating)
- 3-person household: 3100 kWh (no water heating) / 4400 kWh (with water heating)
- 4-person household: 4000 kWh (no water heating) / 5500 kWh (with water heating)
- 5-person household: 4500 kWh (no water heating) / 6700 kWh (with water heating)
Compare providers or pick a provider from the list below. Key factors to look at:
- Grundpreis (basic fee): fixed fee to pay per month
- Arbeitspreis (consumption price): what you pay per kWh used
- bonuses: are often available for new customers (but some are only paid out after a year, so be careful to check also cancellation policies)
Order online
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.

Video guide for signing up with Eprimo*:

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ** 4-person household: 4000 kWh (no water heating) / 5500 kWh (with water heating)
 ** 5-person household: 4500 kWh (no water heating) / 6700 kWh (with water heating)
-* '''Compare''' providers or '''pick''' a provider from the list below
+* '''Compare''' providers or '''pick''' a provider from the list below. Key factors to look at:
+** ''Grundpreis'' (basic fee): fixed fee to pay per month
+** ''Arbeitspreis'' (consumption price): what you pay per kWh used
+** bonuses: are often available for new customers (but some are only paid out after a year, so be careful to check also cancellation policies)
 * Order online
 * Based on your consumption estimation, they calculate a '''monthly prepayment rate''' for you. Pay that rate now every month.