Order an Electricity Provider in Germany (+€35 Bonus)

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 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)
Given this information, estimate your consumption (see 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.
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.

How do I estimate my 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]

Find an Electricity Provider

List of Electricity Providers

ostrom^[2] – English-speaking, (short) monthly contracts, allows prepayment adjustments at any time.
- €35 discount when using referral code XPATWIKI35
eprimo^[2]
- Video guide on how to sign up
lekker^[2]
LEW^[2]
Vattenfall^[2]

Compare Electricity Providers

Check24 Electricity Comparison^[2]

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

↑ "Stromverbrauch: Durchschnittsverbrauch Strom" – source, retrieved 2022-06-20
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 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.

[1] "Stromverbrauch: Durchschnittsverbrauch Strom" – source, retrieved 2022-06-20

[affiliate-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 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.

[1]

[2]