Order an Electricity Provider in Germany (+€35 Bonus)
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If you don't sublet from someone but rent an apartment on your name, you likely need make a contract with an electricity provider. This supplier will bill you on the electricity that you use for/from:
- lights
- power sockets
- stove & oven (if electric)
- water heating (if electric)
(All your other energy consumption, especially for heating will be part of your *Warmmiete* (warm rent), which you pay to your landlord and which is billed by them).
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 / room with an "all inclusive" contract like via Airbnb or similar.
If in doubt, ask your landlord.
How to order and pay an electricity supplier?
- 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.
Find an Electricity Provider
List of Electricity Providers
- ostrom[1] – English-speaking, (short) monthly contracts, allows prepayment adjustments at any time.
- €35 discount when using referral code XPATWIKI35
- eprimo[1]
- lekker[1]
- LEW[1]
- Vattenfall[1]
Compare Electricity Providers
More guides
- Cheapest German Electricity Providers by BerlinCheap.com
- 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