How to Choose a Gas Rate in Germany and Sign a Contract

A residential gas contract in Germany is required for those who are personally responsible for gas heating, hot water, or a gas stove. If gas is already included in the utility bills through the landlord, a separate contract may not be necessary. Before looking for a rate plan, it’s important to understand who pays for the gas, what type of meter you have, and what annual consumption is listed in your previous contract or utility bill.

Where to Start After Moving In

If you’ve moved into an apartment or house with a gas meter and haven’t signed a special contract, the supply is usually provided by the local default provider—the Grundversorger. This is called Grundversorgung. This option is convenient as a temporary solution, but it’s worth comparing it to a Sondervertrag—a separate rate contract with the default provider or another supplier.

To compare rates, have the following information ready:

your address and ZIP code;
the gas meter number, if known;
current meter reading as of your move-in date;
estimated annual consumption in kWh;
the name of the previous provider and the customer number, if you already have a contract;
the start date of service or the date of a potential switch.

If your consumption is unknown, you can use a previous statement, information from your landlord, or a conservative estimate based on the size of your apartment and the type of heating system. The more accurate your consumption figures are, the more useful it will be to compare rates.

Basic Service or Special Contract

Under the “Grundversorgung” (basic service) plan, the consumer receives gas from the default provider in their area of residence. According to the Bundesnetzagentur and the Verbraucherzentrale, such a contract can be terminated with two weeks’ notice, so it’s usually easy to switch to a different rate plan.

A Sondervertrag is a separate contract with a supplier of your choice. It may be cheaper, but you need to read the terms carefully: minimum contract term, price guarantee, notice period, automatic renewal, bonuses, advance payments, and the billing procedure after the first year.

When choosing a plan, don’t just look at the advertised price for the first year. What’s more important is the total cost, taking into account the base fee, the price per kWh, any bonuses, the price validity period, and the cancellation terms.

How to Compare Rates

Check a few details:

Arbeitspreis — the price per kWh consumed;
Grundpreis — a fixed monthly or annual fee;
Price Guarantee — whether there is a price guarantee and exactly what it covers;
Mindestlaufzeit — minimum contract term;
Kündigungsfrist — notice period for termination;
Bonus or Cashback — when it’s paid out and under what conditions it’s forfeited;
Abschlag — a monthly advance payment;
Ökogas or climate-friendly options—if that’s important to you.

Bonuses are only useful if you understand the terms. Sometimes a plan with a large bonus becomes expensive starting in the second year, so be sure to compare not only the first payment but also the total cost after the bonus period ends.

Online aggregator, direct supplier, or broker

There are several ways to set up a contract:

directly on the gas supplier’s website;
through an online rate comparison site;
through a consultant or brokerage service, such as ComComfort;
through your current primary provider (Grundversorger), if they offer a suitable special contract (Sondervertrag).

Comparison sites are convenient for quick comparisons, but you should read the terms regarding bonuses and contract renewals in the actual contract, not just in the advertising section. When signing up through an intermediary, check who exactly is a party to the contract, how the service is paid for, whether there is a commission charged to the customer, and who will assist you in the event of a dispute with the supplier.

What to Check Before Signing

Before submitting your application, save a PDF or screenshot of the terms and conditions and check:

Does the delivery point address match?
Is the meter number listed correctly?
the start date of service;
whether the new provider will handle the termination (Kündigung) of the old contract;
Is there a period during which you’ll be paying for both services?
How is the first advance payment (Abschlag) calculated?;
When will the contract confirmation arrive?
How to submit your meter readings.

If you’re already on the basic service plan (Grundversorgung), switching is usually easier: the new provider often initiates the switching process on its own. If you have a current special contract (Sondervertrag), first check the end date of the minimum term and the notice period (Kündigungsfrist).

Common Mistakes

Don’t sign up for a plan just because of a sign-up bonus without checking the price for the second year.
Estimating your consumption too low and then facing a large additional charge after the annual statement (Jahresabrechnung).
Do not record the meter reading on the date you move in or switch providers.
Failing to verify who is responsible for terminating the old contract.
Ignore letters about price increases or changes to the Abschlag.

If a problem arises

If you have a dispute with your provider, first contact customer support in writing and keep a record of the correspondence. If the issue involves a billing error, an incorrect switch, a disputed termination (Kündigung), or a sharp increase in the advance payment (Abschlag), you can seek advice from the Consumer Advice Center (Verbraucherzentrale). For questions about the rules of basic service (Grundversorgung), switching providers, and consumer rights, the Bundesnetzagentur website is a useful resource.

Quick Checklist

Find out if you need a separate gas contract.
Record the meter reading and your move-in date.
Find your annual consumption or make a conservative estimate.
Compare the “Grundversorgung” and “Sondervertrag.”
Check the Arbeitspreis, Grundpreis, Preisgarantie, Laufzeit, and Kündigungsfrist.
Don’t count on a bonus until you’ve read the terms and conditions for receiving it.
Keep a copy of the contract terms before submitting your application.
Submit your meter reading when switching providers.