The energy market was deregulated in Germany at the end of the 20th century, leading to fierce competition between regional, national and international suppliers. There are now many types of energy available in Germany. These sources are regulated by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) together with the regulatory authorities of the federal states.

When moving into a house or apartment it may be necessary to set up a connection to all utilities. However, most apartment buildings are supplied by one gas/electricity company who will have a contract with the landlord. This means it is not possible for individual tenants to change supplier. To change, proof of residency (polizeiliche Anmeldung) will usually be required. If a place is rented kalt (cold), that means the price of utilities is not included. Warm indicates utilities are included.

Gas

To set-up service, you can contact the gas company directly. Most offer an online service for you to request connection and disconnection. Gas suppliers (Gasanbieter)usually have customer service centers or customer advice lines with staff who speak some English and can assist with the completion of the necessary forms.

Providers

Further providers at http://www.gaskosten-tabelle.de/gasanbieter.php.

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Departure

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Destination

Choose country Choose country AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl salvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuinea-BissauGuinea-ConakryGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamVirgin IslandsWallis and FutunaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

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Electricity

The standard electricity supply in Germany is 230 volts - 50Hz AC. There are two main types of plug used: Type F plugs ("Schuko" short for Schutzkontakt) and Type C plugs (Euro-stecker). Wall sockets are adapted to Type F but fit both plug types. Note: not all extension cords take the larger Type F although some multiple extension cords come with sockets for both size plugs.

New tenets can set-up service directly with suppliers. Changing suppliers usually takes three months period if the customer notifies the respective companies six weeks in advance. The new occupant should make a note of all meter readings from the previous occupant so that the utility company only bills for their actual consumption. It is best to read the terms of the supply contract before changing suppliers as many demand a minimum contract period.

To change account details the supplier will require:
• Meter number (if known). This is a maximum of eight digits and should not be confused with the appliance number on the side of the meter
• Meter reading
• Date of transfer
• The name and contact details of the previous occupant (if possible)
• The exact address including details of which floor of the building the property is on
• Name and bank account details of the new tenant or occupant

Suppliers

Vattenfall Chausseestr. 23, 10115 Berlin-Mitte
Tel: 01801 267 267

RWE
Tel: 0231 438 02

Yello Strom
Tel: 0800 190 0019

A comprehensive list of prodivers can be found here.

Billing

Consumption is generally estimated for the following twelve-month period. Bi-monthly invoices slips are issued stating the amount the supplier estimates the customer will need to pay to cover usage. These can be taken to the post office or bank for payment or a direct debit may be set up.

Meters are read once a year. Following the annual meter reading, payments are adjusted according to actual consumption, and over payment is reimbursed or additional payment is requested by the landlord or the electricity or gas supplier.

Energy Saving

Germany strives to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The websites, Energiesparen or Energie-Richtig-Sparen, offer tips on saving energy.

Oil and Coal Fired Stove Heating (Ofenheizung)

Some older buildings still have stove heating, fired by briquettes and coal and useful for burning rubbish to decrease the amount of household waste generated. Rental properties with stove heating usually have lower rents. Coal is sold at a coal merchant, a builders' merchants (Baumarkt) and DIY shops. Some offer a regular delivery service although it can be bought in small quantities and transport by the homeowner/tenant themselves. Most of the older buildings with stove heating will have a cellar (Keller) for storing fuel.

Water

Water in Germany is usually supplied by the local waterworks (kommunale Wasserwerke). Water costs are determined based on a individual usage and the charges are levied with the rent as part of the additional rent costs (Nebenkosten). In this case there is no need to set up an individual account.

If it is necessary to set up a new contract, contact the relevant water supplier. Most websites have details of customer service centers (Kundencenter) and some have an online facility for registering (anmelden) as a new client.

In many parts of Germany the water quality is very hard and it is strongly recommended that limescale protection products are used in dishwashers and washing machines. Water filters are also very popular for drinking water to prevent limescale build-up in kettles.

Billing

Water consumption readings are taken annually. Any additions or deductions are reflected in the final bill. In rental properties, the actual consumption is reflected in the rent charges for the following year. Some properties have individual water meters, but most water costs are calculated at a fixed rate. Drinking water and waste water are often charged separately. For further information on how costs are calculated, Berliner Wasserbetriebe.

Suppliers

Berliner Wasserbetriebe
Motardstr. 35, 13629 Berlin
Tel: 0800 292 7587

RWE
Tel: 0231 438 02

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