How to Choose an Electricity Plan in Germany

Choosing an electricity plan in Germany is not just about the price per kilowatt-hour. It’s important to check the base fee, contract term, price guarantee, renewal terms, how bonuses are calculated, and the type of meter. This is especially important for new residents, families, owners of heat pumps and electric vehicles, and those moving to a new home.

If you need to sign up not only for electricity but also for other household services, it’s helpful to compare the terms of related contracts: for gas,, for mobile service,, and for home internet,.

When to Switch Providers

It makes sense to review a new contract in several situations:

• You’ve just moved into an apartment or house and don’t want to stay on the basic “Grundversorgung” plan any longer than necessary;
• The Mindestvertragslaufzeit—that is, the minimum term of the current contract—has expired;
• The provider has announced a price increase;
• Your energy consumption has changed: you’ve added a water heater, electric heating, a heat pump, or an electric vehicle;
• The previous contract was set up by the former tenant, the landlord, or was chosen temporarily without comparing terms.

With the basic service (Grundversorgung), the contract can usually be canceled with short notice. For standard contracts (Sondervertrag), you need to review the specific terms of the contract and the notice period (Kündigungsfrist).

What Types of Tariffs Are Available?

Several types of plans are most commonly found in households.

Plan	Who It’s For	What to Check
Standard / Household Electricity	A typical apartment or house without special appliances	Price per kWh, base rate, contract term, price guarantee
Nachtspeicher	Homes with night storage heating	Separate meter, day and night rates, technical requirements
Heat Pump	House or apartment with a heat pump	Is a separate meter required? Is there a special rate for heat pumps?
Ladestrom	Charging an electric vehicle at home	Requirements for a Wallbox, separate metering, nighttime or dynamic rates

Tariff names may vary among providers, so compare the actual terms of the contract rather than the marketing names.

What information is needed to find the right plan

To make an accurate comparison, have the following information ready:

• full address and postal code;
• Meter number (Stromzählernummer), if already known;
• your current provider and customer number, if you already have a contract;
• estimated annual consumption in kWh;
• number of residents;
• whether you have an electric water heater, an electric boiler, a heat pump, night-time heating, or electric vehicle charging;
• move-in date, the end date of the old contract, or the date of a price increase;
• A German IBAN, if the provider requires payment via SEPA direct debit.

If you don’t have exact consumption data, you can start with an estimate based on past bills or the number of residents, and then adjust the Abschlag after receiving your first Jahresabrechnung.

How to Read the Rate

Don’t focus solely on the large monthly amount shown. Several elements in the contract are important:

• Arbeitspreis: the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) actually consumed;
• Grundpreis: a fixed monthly or annual fee;
• Price guarantee: which parts of the price are protected from increases and for how long;
• Mindestlaufzeit: minimum contract term;
• Kündigungsfrist: contract cancellation period;
• Neukundenbonus or Sofortbonus: when the bonus is credited and under what conditions it can be forfeited;
• Abschlag: a monthly advance payment that is later reconciled with actual consumption.

A low Abschlag does not mean a cheap plan. If your actual consumption exceeds the estimated amount, you’ll have to pay the difference in your Jahresabrechnung.

Online comparison tool or consultation

An online comparison is convenient if you understand German contract terms and are willing to adjust the filters yourself. However, comparison sites often have settings that significantly alter the final results: inclusion of bonuses, price guarantee duration, regional restrictions, payment methods, and renewal terms.

This consultation is helpful if you:

• have recently moved to Germany;
• Not sure what type of meter you have;
• Choose a plan for a heat pump, night storage heater, or charging current;
• Do you want to sign multiple contracts at the same time?
• You don’t fully understand the German contract terms.

The original article mentions ComComfort as a consulting service for selecting contracts for electricity, gas, mobile service, and internet. If you decide to use such an intermediary, check the official website to see who receives a commission, which providers are involved in the selection process, how personal data is handled, and who will be your point of contact in the event of a dispute with a provider.

What to Check Before Signing

Before submitting an application or signing electronically, go through this checklist:

• Do the address, name, and start date of service match?
• Is the correct tariff type and meter type specified?
• Are the Arbeitspreis and Grundpreis clear, excluding any one-time bonus?
• Is there an undesirably long minimum contract term?
• Is it clear who is responsible for terminating the old contract?
• Have you kept copies of the contract confirmation (Vertragsbestätigung), the General Terms and Conditions (AGB), and the cancellation policy (Widerrufsbelehrung)?
• Is there a Sonderkündigungsrecht (special right to terminate) in the event of a price increase?
• Check to see if any additional services you didn’t request are included.

What to Do After Signing Up

Usually, the new provider will contact the old provider and the network operator on its own. You should keep a copy of the contract, submit your meter reading on the date of the switch, and check your mail from both providers.

If there’s a delay during the switch, your electricity shouldn’t just cut off: residential customers in Germany are protected by the Grundversorgung system. However, it’s best to resolve any disputes in writing and keep all documentation.

Common Mistakes

• Don’t just compare the first year with the bonus and ignore the price after the promotion ends.
• Underreporting annual consumption to save a little on the Abschlag.
• Don’t forget to check whether you need a separate meter for a heat pump, night storage heater, or charging current.
• Signing a long-term contract without a price guarantee.
• Do not keep the confirmation of termination of your old contract.
• Do not submit an application with contact information that you do not use to respond to unknown phone numbers or emails.

FAQ

Is it possible to sign a contract without knowing German?

Yes, but the contract documents will usually be in German. If you’re using a Russian-language consultation service, be sure to ask them to explain the key terms: price, contract term, renewal, bonuses, Kündigungsfrist, and the termination procedure.

Do you need to replace the meter when switching providers?

When switching providers, the meter usually remains the same. A separate or additional meter may be required for special rates, such as those for heat pumps, nighttime heating, or electric vehicle charging.

Who pays for the broker’s services?

Some advisory services offer free assistance to customers because the service receives compensation from the provider. It’s important to verify this before signing up to ensure that the selection process is independent and that providers are actually being compared.

Which is more important: the bonus or the price per kWh?

For a long-term contract, the total cost—taking into account the Grundpreis, Arbeitspreis, price validity period, and renewal terms—is more important. A bonus is only useful if it’s clear when it’s credited and won’t be forfeited in the event of early termination.