Germany/Housing/Electricity

If you don't sublet from someone but rent an apartment on your name, you likely need make a contract with an electricity provider.

Questions & Answers

When do I need an electricity provider?

• If you rent an apartment or house directly from a landlord.

You usually don't need an electricity contract

• when you sublet an apartment or room (from another person).
• when you rent your apartment or room with an "all-inclusive" contract like via Airbnb or similar.

If in doubt, ask your landlord.

Aren't my energy costs already billed in my warm rent (Warmmiete)?

Your warm rent includes energy needed for heating of your apartment. It may also include water heating.

But for energy used for/from:

• lights
• power sockets
• stove & oven (if electric)
• water heating (if electric)

you need to make a contract with an electricity supplier.

How to order an electricity supplier?

• Find out whether your warm water is heated by
  • your electricity,
  • or instead by gas or even delivered from your landlord (central heating)
• Given this information, estimate your consumption (see the table below).
• Know your postal code (Use Google maps to find it.)
• 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)

How will I get billed for my electricity use?

• Based on your consumption estimation, your electricity provider will calculate a monthly prepayment rate.
• 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 & Ideal Consumption Rates

To estimate your electricity consumption, you can go by average consumptions per year of German households, as shown in the table below. Additionally, ideal consumptions are shown (if savings potentials are used).

Household size	Average, with electric water heating	Average, without electric water heating	Ideal (minimized) consumption
1 person	1500 kWh	2100 kWh	800-1300 kWh
2 person	2500 kWh	3400 kWh	1300-2100 kWh
3 person	3500 kWh	4400 kWh	1700-2600 kWh
4 person	4250 kWh	5500 kWh	1900-2900 kWh

Find an Electricity Provider

List of German Electricity Providers

Common German electricity providers with their Trustpilot rating:

• 5
  ostrom – English support 🇬🇧, minimum term: 11 days, allows prepayment adjustments at any time, €35 bonus when using referral code XPATWIKI35
• 4.5
  Polarstern: minimum term: 1 month
• 4.5
  Vattenfall: minimum term: 12 months
• 3.5
  Stadtwerke Flensburg: minimum term: 12 months
• 3
  LEW
• 2
  eprimo – Video guide on how to sign up
• 2
  lekker
• 1.5
  Qcells

Compare German Electricity 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 Electricity Comparison

See also

• How do electric bills work in Germany? by AllAboutBerlin.com
• Set up a contract with an electricity supplier Germany settle-in-berlin.com
• Comparison of Best German Electricity Providers by movingto-berlin.com
• Review of green electricity companies by goodlifegermany.com

Notes