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Electricity Provider in Germany
Did you know that you can save up some expenses off your list by choosing the best and cheapest electricity provider in Germany? Yes, you read that right. Expats tend to not pay attention to expenses like these as apartments often comes with electricity as well. But if you are up to save some euros by choosing a cheaper electricity provider, this blog is for you. Keep reading!
Just to make it clear, you do not have to register yourself with any German electricity provider to have electricity as, they are required by law to provide uninterrupted service (EnWG § 36 Grundversorgungspflicht).
The local provider that came with the house will eventually send you a letter asking for payment. With this document, you simply list the date you moved in, and you will be responsible for all of the charges since then. As defined by law, this standard contract can be cancelled by giving two weeks’ notice, in this time period you can compare different electricity providers and choose the one that fits in your budget.
Electricity Providers in Germany
In Germany, there are various electricity providers options to choose from, their energy is all sourced from the same national grid. The difference is not only based on price – but also on the type of energy such as renewable, coal and nuclear; the suppliers such as farmers with solar arrays, off-shore wind farms, and beliefs like vegan, cooperative, etc.
Some of the leading electricity providers in Germany are
- E.ON Energie
- Vattenfall
- Yello Strom
- EnBW Energie
Renewable Electricity providers in Germany
These providers are the ones that provide comparatively better services and prices than the standard providers. Some of the renewable electricity providers are:
- Ostrom
- Lekker Energie
- Naturstrom
- Knauber Strom
English Electricity provider
Ostrom It is one of the first electricity providers to offer their services in English and all digital. Additionally, they offer a single plan, which makes it convenient while choosing it. It is sourced with renewable energy. It does not offer contract-based offers. So, you can switch, if you are not satisfied.
Procedure for registering with Electricity providers
- Find an offer that matches your needs by providing an estimate for your consumption. There are many comparison tools online such as Verivox, check24, Sparstorm and Stromauskunft.
By using these tools, all possible tariffs to your basic city provider (Grundversorger) will be compared. You have two weeks to the end of the month to serve your legal notice with the Grundversorger.
- You select and conclude a contract with your preferred provider, you fill in the necessary details and maybe your bank details too. (Only German banks are allowed)
- You provide information about your electricity meter (“Stromzähler“) to your new provider.
- Your new provider notifies your old provider of the switch. There is no need to cancel the contract yourself.
- You prepay your consumption in instalments during the first year. After the first year, your provider has enough historical data to assess your real consumption. This may result in a refund if you used less than expected. Your new instalments will be adjusted accordingly.
How Kw is calcualted?
The average power price for households and small businesses in Germany stood at 31.94 cents per kilowatt hour (ct/kWh). The average yearly electricity consumption ranges from 1500 kWh – 6000 kWh from one person to large families.
How to pay your electricity bill in Germany?
It’s a simple method, during the provider change process, you would have entered your bank details. Hence, there will be an automated deduction every month when the bill is prepared.
If your consumption is less than what you have estimated you will receive the money back after 12 months. In case it exceeds the estimate, you will receive an additional invoice requesting an additional payment (Nachzahlung).
Things to keep in mind before finalising a provider
- The first point to keep in mind is how the billing will be for the first year, as mentioned earlier your first bill will be based on your estimated usage until the time of switching. Which means you bill can either be more or less than the estimation. After the first year, the new bill will be adjusted according to the usage.
- Make sure you choose the instalments according to you convenience as it is easier to pay it on a monthly or quarterly base than a lumpsum amount in the end.
- If are sharing a flat with someone, then make sure the person signed up for the contract is the main tenant. In case of a short-term rental or sublet, those costs are included in the Nebenkosten, under which circumstance you do not require a contract of your own.
- Choose providers that use completely renewable energy, as mentioned earlier they often tend to provide better services with better prices.
Conclusion
I guess you have an idea of the electricity providers by now. As we read earlier, electricity isn’t always something we pay attention to in order to save money. But now I hope you got an idea as to where you can save those extra euros you spend on electricity. I hope you make the right choice and experience the benefits from the switching to reasonable and good electricity providers in Germany.
If you have more queries or need assistance, reach us via Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram or you can also schedule an appointment with us right now for FREE!
English to German Glossary
Postleitzahl : postal code
Grundversorger – the standard electricity provider from your city
Mindestlaufzeit : minimum contract duration
Wechselservice – changing the service
Verlängerung : duration of the contract when renewed automatically
Kündigungsfrist : notice period regarding your time left before ending the contract
Vertragslaufzeit : the ontract duration
Nutzung : if the usage of electricity is for a private or commercial purpose
Verbrauch : estimated electricity consumption at home.
Vorauskasse : payments done advance
Nachzahlung – the additional payment to be made if your consumption is more than the estimate
Rückzahlung – the repayment to be received if your consumption is less than the estimate
Stromzähler – meter measuring your consumption
Ökostrom : Electricity coming from renewable sources
Abschlagszahlung – Abschläge : Installments
Sofortbonus & Neukundenbonus : Bonuses/discounts for signing up a new contracts
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