Gas Costs in Germany: What Makes Up the Bill and How to Choose a Tariff

Gas costs in Germany depend on more than just the number of kilowatt-hours consumed. A bill usually includes a variable energy charge, a fixed basic charge, network fees, taxes, metering, concession fees, and other surcharges. As a result, two households with the same consumption can pay different amounts if they live in different regions or have different contracts.

For tenants, gas is most often connected with heating and hot water. Sometimes the tenant signs the contract with the supplier directly; sometimes the costs are included in the service-charge statement from the landlord. Before comparing tariffs, it is important to understand who the Vertragspartner is: you, the landlord, or the property management company.

What counts as an average gas price

There is no single universal gas price across Germany. Two figures are usually important on household bills:

• Arbeitspreis — the price per 1 kWh. The higher the consumption, the larger this part of the bill.
• Grundpreis — a fixed amount per month or year. It is charged even when consumption is low.

According to the Bundesnetzagentur, the average household gas tariff on 1 April 2025 was 12.13 cents per kWh for households with annual consumption between 5,555 and 55,555 kWh. In 2026, new contracts on the market could be noticeably lower or higher than this benchmark depending on the region, price guarantee, and the date the contract was signed: according to Verivox, in March 2026 the cheapest widely available new tariffs for consumption of 20,000 kWh were around 9.4 cents per kWh.

These figures should not be transferred mechanically into your budget. On a real bill, the following matter:

• postal code and local Netzbetreiber;
• annual consumption in kWh;
• whether there is a basic charge;
• duration of the Preisgarantie;
• Grundversorgung or Sondervertrag;
• payment method and Kündigung terms;
• whether bonuses apply only in the first year.

Why prices vary by region

Gas is not more expensive or cheaper because the fuel itself differs from place to place. Network costs, concession fees, metering, infrastructure maintenance, and the structure of the local market all play a significant role. This is why tariffs can differ between Saarland, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, Hamburg, and other states.

Regional comparisons in older articles become outdated quickly. For a practical choice, it is more reliable to enter your PLZ and expected annual consumption into a comparison service or check your current supplier’s terms than to rely on an average price for Germany.

What makes up the bill

A household gas tariff usually contains several components:

Component	What it means for the consumer
Energy, procurement, Vertrieb, and margin	The supplier’s commercial part of the tariff
Netzentgelt	Fee for using the gas network
Messentgelt	Metering, the meter, and related service
Taxes	For example, Umsatzsteuer and Energiesteuer
Abgaben and Umlagen	Including CO2-Abgabe and individual gas surcharges
Grundpreis	Fixed portion independent of consumption

Comparing only the price per kWh is not enough. A tariff with a low Arbeitspreis can be unattractive if the Grundpreis is high, especially when consumption is low.

How to estimate your annual consumption

The most reliable benchmark is the latest Jahresabrechnung. It states consumption in kWh for the billing period. If you do not have an old bill, you can make a preliminary estimate based on the size of the home and how gas is used.

Consumption is affected by:

• the size of the apartment or house;
• number of residents;
• whether gas is used only for heating or also for hot water and cooking;
• the quality of insulation, windows, and the condition of the building;
• regional weather and the length of the heating season;
• desired room temperature;
• ventilation habits.

A family in a poorly insulated house may consume several times more than one person in a modern apartment. When switching suppliers, it is therefore better to enter actual consumption from the bill rather than an approximate “average” figure.

Switching gas suppliers

Switching suppliers usually does not lead to a gas shutoff: the physical supply continues through the local network, while the company issuing the bill changes. However, you need to check the terms of the old contract before signing a new one.

Mini-checklist before a Wechsel:

1. Find the Mindestlaufzeit and Kündigungsfrist in your old contract.
2. Check whether there is automatic renewal and when you can terminate the contract.
3. See who submits the Kündigung: you, or whether the new supplier does it for you.
4. Compare not only the Arbeitspreis but also the Grundpreis, Preisgarantie, and bonuses.
5. Clarify what happens after the first year if the introductory bonus disappears.
6. Save the Zählernummer, Zählerstand, and the switching date.

If the old contract is still active, the new tariff will usually start only after its term ends or after a valid Kündigung. In the event of a sharp price increase, there may be a Sonderkündigungsrecht, but its deadline and conditions must be checked in the specific supplier notice.

Grundversorgung or Sondervertrag

Grundversorgung is the basic supply provided by the local default supplier. It is convenient as a fallback, but it is not always the cheapest option. A Sondervertrag is a separate contract with a chosen supplier; its terms may be more favourable, but they require careful reading.

For newcomers to Germany, it is helpful first to find out which contract already applies to the apartment. If gas is included in the Nebenkosten, switching suppliers independently may be impossible: savings then depend on the landlord, property management company, and building-wide contract.

How to save money safely

The most noticeable savings often come not from a single action but from combining several steps:

• check your tariff every year after receiving the Jahresabrechnung;
• do not automatically accept expensive Grundversorgung if alternatives are available;
• choose a tariff with a clear Preisgarantie;
• avoid contracts whose benefit depends only on a one-off bonus;
• lower the temperature where it is comfortable and safe;
• ventilate regularly, briefly, and intensively instead of leaving windows permanently ajar;
• notify the landlord about problems with heating, windows, and insulation.

Common mistakes

• Comparing tariffs without considering the Grundpreis.
• Entering estimated consumption instead of the actual Verbrauch from the bill.
• Not reading the Kündigungsfrist and Mindestlaufzeit.
• Treating a first-year bonus as a permanent price.
• Not recording meter readings when moving or switching suppliers.
• Confusing a gas contract with the service-charge statement through the landlord.

FAQ

How much does 20,000 kWh of gas cost in Germany?

The amount depends on the tariff and region. At 10 cents per kWh, the variable portion alone would be around €2,000 per year, but the Grundpreis and other contract terms may be added. An accurate calculation therefore has to use the specific PLZ, consumption, and tariff.

Can you be left without gas when switching suppliers?

Usually not. Gas is physically supplied by the local network, while the switch concerns contractual and billing arrangements. In disputed situations, a household should not simply “disappear” from the supply, but it is best to keep all Kündigung documents and deadlines.

Which matters more: a low Arbeitspreis or a low Grundpreis?

With high consumption, the Arbeitspreis is often more important. With low consumption, a high Grundpreis can eat up the savings. A comparison must therefore take both parts of the bill into account.

Do I need to switch suppliers every year?

Not necessarily. But it is useful to check your tariff after the annual bill: the gas market changes, and an old contract does not always remain favourable.