Difference between revisions of "Germany/Housing/Electricity"
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If you don't sublet from someone but [[Germany/Housing/Rent|rent an apartment on your name]], you likely need '''make a contract with an electricity provider'''. | If you don't sublet from someone but [[Germany/Housing/Rent|rent an apartment on your name]], you likely need '''make a contract with an electricity provider'''. | ||
Revision as of 19:48, 23 June 2022
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
- if you sublet an apartment or room (from another person), or
- if 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). [1]
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:
- ostrom[2] – English support 🇬🇧, minimum term: 11 days[3], allows prepayment adjustments at any time[4], €35 bonus when using referral code XPATWIKI35
- Polarstern[2]: minimum term: 1 month[5]
- Vattenfall[2]: minimum term: 12 months
- Stadtwerke Flensburg[2]: minimum term: 12 months[6]
- LEW[2]
- eprimo[2] – Video guide on how to sign up
- lekker[2]
- Qcells[2]
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.
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
- ↑ "Stromverbrauch: Durchschnittsverbrauch Strom" – source, retrieved 2022-06-20
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 This is an affiliate link. If you click on it and then buy something or sign up for a service, we may earn a commission which covers our expenses. This does not change the price for you.
- ↑ "The minimum contract period is 11 days" – source, retrieved 2022-06-22
- ↑ "you can adjust your monthly payment at all times." – source, retrieved 2022-06-22
- ↑ "Welche Konditionen bietet Polarstern? / Bei uns gibt es keine Mindestvertragslaufzeit – du kannst deinen Vertrag immer mit zwei Wochen Frist zum Monatsende kündigen." – source, retrieved 2022-06-22
- ↑ "Mindestvertragslaufzeit von 12 Monaten" – source, retrieved 2022-06-22