Utilities in Germany: Electricity, Gas, and Internet

When you move into a German apartment, electricity, gas (if your flat has its own boiler), internet, and the public broadcasting fee are usually your responsibility. Many leases show warm rent (Warmmiete) with heating and water in service charges (Nebenkosten), but power, separate gas, phone, and internet are often billed directly to you.

The good news: you can choose providers and switch in most cases with about two to four weeks’ notice. If you do nothing, the default local supplier (Grundversorger) keeps the supply running, but comparison sites often find a better deal. The Rundfunkbeitrag (many people still say GEZ) is mandatory for every household at €18.36 per month, whether or not you watch TV.

For rent types and Nebenkosten, see Finding an Apartment in Germany. For address updates and the broadcasting fee, see Changing Your Registered Address. For internet contracts, SCHUFA, and speed checks, see Phone and Internet Contracts in Germany.

Electricity

Each apartment has its own electricity meter (Stromzähler). It is usually inside the flat; in larger blocks it may sit in a shared meter room in the basement.

When you move in, note the meter reading (a photo helps). You can sign with any licensed supplier or stay on the Grundversorger until you switch.

Compare tariffs on Check24 or Verivox. Check:

• Price per kWh
• Monthly base fee (Grundpreis)
• Contract length and cancellation rules
• Whether green power (Ökostrom) is included or optional

Switching is straightforward: the new provider usually cancels the old contract. Notice is often two to four weeks; some tariffs lock you in longer. Monthly cost depends on usage and tariff. Prices rose sharply in 2022-2023 and can still be elevated, so recompare each year.

Gas and heating

How you heat depends on the building. As a renter you do not choose the system, but it helps to know what you are signing up for.

Setup	Who contracts	How you pay
Gas heating	You choose a gas supplier	Direct bill; read the gas meter at move-in
District heating (Fernwärme)	Landlord or building	Usually included in Nebenkosten
Oil heating	Landlord	Your share via Nebenkosten
Electric heating	Your electricity contract	Extra kWh on the power bill

With gas heating, compare providers on the same sites as electricity and record the meter reading when you move in. District heating and oil are typically handled by the landlord; you pay your share through Nebenkosten. Electric heating adds to your normal electricity bill.

Rough heat cost ranking (2025 guide, per unit of heat, least to most expensive):

1. Heat pumps (rare in rentals; cheapest when well installed)
2. District heating (Fernwärme): price set by the local provider, no competition
3. Gas: mid-range, volatile since 2022
4. Oil: similar to gas, follows global oil markets
5. Direct electric heating: often about two to three times the cost of gas per unit of heat

Internet and phone

Internet and mobile are always separate from rent. This is a large topic on its own: 24-month contracts, auto-renewal traps, SCHUFA checks, and “up to” (bis zu) speeds that may not match real performance at your address.

See Phone and Internet Contracts in Germany for prepaid vs contract mobile, home internet types, and how to test line speed before you commit.

Public broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)

The Rundfunkbeitrag is a mandatory TV and radio licence fee of €18.36 per month (confirm the current amount when you register). It is charged once per household, not per person. You must pay even if you do not watch TV or listen to radio.

• Register or update your address at rundfunkbeitrag.de
• If a flatmate already pays for the flat, use their contribution number to avoid duplicate bills
• Exemptions may apply if you receive Bürgergeld, BAföG, or Grundsicherung, or if you have a severe disability with RF marking on your disability pass
• If you do not pay, the authority can trace you via registration data and charge back payments plus fees

For benefit context, see Unemployment Benefits and Welfare in Germany.

Set up utilities when moving

1. Photograph electricity and gas meter readings (if the flat has its own gas meter).
2. Sign up for power (and gas if needed) or stay on the Grundversorger while you compare.
3. Check internet availability at the new address before signing a long contract.
4. Register Rundfunkbeitrag or join an existing household payment within about one month.
5. Tell your landlord supplier names and meter readings if the lease or handover protocol requires it.

Saving money

• Compare providers annually. Loyalty rarely pays; welcome bonuses often expire after the first year.
• Avoid long lock-ins when a shorter or monthly option exists.
• Submit meter readings yourself so bills are not based only on estimates.
• Green power is often the same price or cheaper than conventional tariffs.

Useful links

• Verbraucherzentrale: energy prices, tariffs, and switching (German)

Related pitfalls

Common mistakes to avoid

Short warnings linked to this guide. Each item highlights a costly or legal slip newcomers often make.

1. Languishing in the Grundversorgung

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   Staying with the default electricity provider upon moving in. Costs an average of €300-€400 extra per year compared to market-rate contracts.

2. Unregistered Balkonkraftwerk

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