Editing Germany/Housing/Electricity

{{Head
|Electricity Providers in Germany
|FAQ, List, €35 Bonus
|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'''. Read here how to find, compare & sign up with a €35 bonus.
}}
{{#seo:|description=If you don't sublet from someone but rent an apartment on your name, you likely need make a contract with an electricity provider. Read here how to find, compare & sign up with a €35 bonus.}}

{{FAQ|

{{FAQ/Item|q=When do I need an electricity provider?|a=

* 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.

}}
{{FAQ/Item|q=Aren't my energy costs already billed in my warm rent (''Warmmiete'')?|a=

Your warm rent includes the energy needed for heating 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.

}}
{{FAQ/Item|q=How to find an electricity supplier?|a=

You will need you postal code postal code because prices are different by area. (Use [https://www.google.com/maps/ Google maps] to find it.)

However, you can make a contract with any German provider (if they offer it), no matter where you live. So even if you live in Berlin, you can make a contract with a provider from Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, or Munich.

# 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 [[#consumption|table below]]).
# '''Compare''' providers or '''pick''' a provider from the [[#find|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)

}}
{{FAQ/Item|q=How to sign up with an electricity provider?|a=

All the sign-up can be done online. Once you've picked your provider, you will need to give them

# the ID number of your electricity meter (it is usually printed on it),
# the current electricity meter reading,
# your IBAN [[Germany/Banking|bank account number]] (if you agree to direct debit)

}}
{{FAQ/Item|q=How will I get billed for my electricity use?|a=

* Based on your consumption estimation, your electricity provider will calculate a '''monthly prepayment rate'''. This prepayment rate will be either
** either deducted from your bank account, if you agreed to direct debit (''Lastschrift'')
** or you will need to transfer it yourself 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'''.
}}
}}

<div id="consumption">
== 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). <ref>{{Cite|date=2022-06-20|url=https://www.check24.de/strom/stromverbrauch/|quote=Stromverbrauch: Durchschnittsverbrauch Strom}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! 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
|}

<div id="find">
== Find an Electricity Provider ==

=== List of German Electricity Providers ===

Common German electricity providers with their '''Trustpilot rating''':

* {{Trustpilot|ostrom.de|5}} {{AffLink|ostrom|ostrom.electricity}} – English support 🇬🇧, minimum term: 11 days<ref>{{Cite|date=2022-06-22|url=https://www.ostrom.de/faq#what-is-the-minimum-contract-period|quote=The minimum contract period is 11 days}}</ref>, allows prepayment adjustments at any time<ref>{{Cite|date=2022-06-22|url=https://www.ostrom.de/faq#will-my-monthly-payment-be-adjusted|quote=you can adjust your monthly payment at all times.}}</ref>, '''€35 bonus''' when using referral code ''XPATWIKI35''
* {{Trustpilot|polarstern-energie.de|4.5}} {{AffLink|Polarstern|polarstern.electricity}}: minimum term: 1 month<ref>{{Cite|date=2022-06-22|url=https://www.polarstern-energie.de/oekostrom/|quote=Welche Konditionen bietet Polarstern? / Bei uns gibt es keine Mindestvertragslaufzeit – du kannst deinen Vertrag immer mit zwei Wochen Frist zum Monatsende kündigen.}}</ref>
* {{Trustpilot|vattenfall.de|4.5}} {{AffLink|Vattenfall|vattenfall.electricity}}: minimum term: 12 months
* {{Trustpilot|stadtwerke-flensburg.de|3.5}} {{AffLink|Stadtwerke Flensburg|stadtwerke-flensburg.electricity}}: minimum term: 12 months<ref>{{Cite|date=2022-06-22|url=https://www.stadtwerke-flensburg.de/produkte/strom|quote=Mindestvertragslaufzeit von 12 Monaten
}}</ref>
* {{Trustpilot|lew.de|3}} {{AffLink|LEW|lew.electricity}}
* {{Trustpilot|eprimo.de|2}} {{AffLink|eprimo|eprimo.electricity}} – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_UcL4WTyCE Video guide on how to sign up] 
* {{Trustpilot|lekker.de|2}} {{AffLink|lekker|lekker.electricity}}
* {{Trustpilot|q-cells.de|1.5}} {{AffLink|Qcells|q-cells.electricity}}

=== 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.

* {{Trustpilot|www.check24.de|5}} {{AffLink|Check24 Electricity Comparison|check24-electricity-comparison}}

== See also ==
* [https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/electric-bill-berlin How do electric bills work in Germany?] by ''AllAboutBerlin.com''
* [https://www.settle-in-berlin.com/electricity-supplier-germany/ Set up a contract with an electricity supplier Germany] ''settle-in-berlin.com''
* [https://www.movingto-berlin.com/best-electricity-provider-berlin/ Comparison of Best German Electricity Providers] by ''movingto-berlin.com''
* [https://goodlifegermany.com/en/how-to-germany/for-your-home/best-electricity-providers-germany-2021/ Review of green electricity companies] by ''goodlifegermany.com''

{{Notes}}

[[Category:Housing]]