Cheap Electricity in Germany
Germany's default electricity supply is convenient but rarely cheap. BNetzA reports that households on alternative online tariffs typically pay 25 to 35 percent less per kWh than those on the default. Switching takes about 10 minutes online, and your supply is never interrupted.
Last updated: May 29, 2026 · meinetarife24 Editorial Team
Key points at a glance
- Online tariffs were typically 25 to 35 percent cheaper than default supply in 2025, according to BNetzA data.
- Signing up takes about 10 minutes. Your new provider handles cancelling the old contract for you.
- Setting up electricity in your first apartment: note your meter reading on move-in day, then sign up online, that is all.
- Look for at least 12 months of price guarantee, a cancellation notice period of one month or less, and transparent bonus terms.
- Your supply continues uninterrupted during any switch. This is protected under German energy law (EnWG § 36).
What does "cheap electricity" actually mean in Germany?
When you move into a German apartment, electricity is supplied to you automatically, even before you have your own contract. This is called Grundversorgung (default supply) and is guaranteed under the German Energy Act (EnWG § 36). It is useful, but it is not cheap.
The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, or BNetzA) publishes an annual electricity price monitoring report. In 2025, the average working rate in default supply was around 46 ct/kWh. Alternative providers offering online tariffs to new customers typically started between 28 and 33 ct/kWh.
For a typical household, staying on default supply means paying several hundred euros a year more than necessary. In practice, "cheap electricity" almost always means switching to an online tariff from an alternative provider instead of staying with the default.
Source: Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), Electricity Price Monitoring Report 2024/2025.
Online tariff vs default supply: where does the price gap come from?
The default supplier (Grundversorger) is the provider serving the most households in your postcode area. By law, they must accept anyone who has not yet signed their own electricity contract. That makes default supply a safety net, but providers must price it to cover customers at every risk level, which pushes the rate up.
Alternative providers compete for customers who are willing to switch. Online tariffs are signed and managed digitally. Lower distribution and service costs mean a lower price per kilowatt-hour.
Example calculation for a two-person household (2,500 kWh/year)
Rounded figures based on BNetzA electricity price monitoring data 2024/2025.
- • Default supply, approx. 46 ct/kWh + standing charge: roughly €1,350 per year
- • Cheap online tariff, approx. 30 ct/kWh + standing charge: roughly €950 per year
- • Potential saving by switching: approximately €300 to €500 per year, depending on region and any bonus structure.
To see what switching would actually save at your address, run a comparison for your postcode in our electricity comparison. For more context on why and how to switch, see our guide on switching your energy provider.
Registering for electricity in your first German apartment
New to Germany and moving into your own place for the first time? Electricity registration works in three steps. You do not need to wait for anything to be posted, once you have your keys and your meter reading, you can sign up immediately.
- 1Note your meter reading on move-in day. Take a photo of your electricity meter (Stromzähler). That reading separates your costs from those of the previous tenant.
- 2Sign up for a contract online. You will need your address, your meter number (printed on the meter), and your bank details for SEPA direct debit (Lastschrift). Most providers let you complete this in under 10 minutes.
- 3Default supply covers you in the meantime. You do not need to do anything extra. Your new provider takes over within two to four weeks, and there is no gap in supply.
German terms you will see on the contract
What to look for in a cheap electricity tariff
The lowest price on the first page of a comparison is not always the lowest price in year two. Five things that actually matter:
Compare cheap electricity for your postcode
Enter your postcode and annual consumption below to see tariffs from the CHECK24 network for your area. The comparison is free, and nothing is committed until you actively confirm a contract.
Disclosure: This comparison uses the tariff calculator of our partner CHECK24. We receive a commission when you sign a contract through this calculator, with no effect on the order of results shown.
When the tariff comparison is not enough
Sometimes the tariff is not the problem, the consumption is. Old refrigerators, a tumble dryer without a heat pump, or an air conditioner running through summer can use far more electricity than most people expect. A few practical levers:
- Check your electricity bill and compare your consumption to the national average for your household size. Our energy switching guide includes a breakdown of typical German household usage.
- If the environmental impact matters to you, certified green electricity (Ökostrom) is often only a few cents more per kWh than a standard tariff, worth comparing at the same time.
- Planning a heat pump or solar panels? Before you invest, compare interest rates for home improvement loans in our cheap loan Germany guide.
Frequently asked questions about cheap electricity in Germany
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Sources and further reading
- • Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA): Electricity Price Monitoring Report 2024/2025.
- • German Energy Act (Energiewirtschaftsgesetz, EnWG), § 36 (default supply obligation) and § 38 (emergency supply).
- • Verbraucherzentrale (German Consumer Centre): guidance on switching providers and avoiding contract pitfalls.
- • Stiftung Warentest / Finanztest: regular independent electricity tariff comparisons.
Data as of May 29, 2026. Prices and regulations can change. Always verify current rates in the comparison calculator before signing a contract.