Setting up electricity in your German flat (Strom anmelden)

Who needs it

It depends on your rental contract:

• Most unfurnished rentals: you sign your own electricity contract. The rent covers only building costs such as stairway lighting (Allgemeinstrom), not your flat.
• Shared flats (WG), furnished and short-term rentals: electricity is often included in the rent or arranged by the main tenant. Check your contract.
• Heating and hot water are often paid through your service charges (Nebenkosten), unless they run on electricity or on a gas boiler with its own contract.

When

On move-in day, or before. Electricity usually keeps flowing when you move in. That is because of the Grundversorgung (default supply): if you use electricity without a contract, a contract with the local default supplier starts automatically. You must tell that supplier promptly, in text form, that you have moved in.

What you need

• Meter number (Zählernummer), printed on the meter.
• Meter reading (Zählerstand) on move-in day, with the date.
• Move-in date and address.
• Bank account (IBAN) for direct debit. See bank account.
• Your estimated yearly consumption in kWh. Your supplier can estimate it from the number of people in the flat.

How to do it

1. Find your meter. It is often in the basement or a meter cupboard in the stairwell. Your landlord can show you which one belongs to your flat.
2. Take a photo of the meter showing the meter number and reading on move-in day. Keep it. It protects you from paying for the previous tenant's use.
3. Choose a supplier. You can stay in Grundversorgung or choose a special contract (Sondervertrag) with any supplier. Compare the price per kWh, the monthly base fee (Grundpreis), the contract term and the notice period.
4. Register. Give the new supplier your meter number, reading and move-in date. The supplier handles the rest with the grid operator. If you were in Grundversorgung, the new supplier usually cancels it for you.
5. Set up the Abschlag. The supplier sets a monthly advance payment (Abschlag) based on your expected use.

Grundversorgung vs a special contract

What happens afterwards

Abschlag and annual bill

You pay the Abschlag every month. At least once a year, you receive a bill (Jahresabrechnung) based on your actual meter reading. If you used more, you pay the difference (Nachzahlung). If you used less, you get a credit (Guthaben), which must be paid out or offset against your next Abschlag. The annual bill must arrive within six weeks of the end of the billing period. You can ask your supplier to adjust your Abschlag if it is clearly too high or too low.

Price changes

Suppliers must tell household customers about price increases at least one month in advance. You can then cancel without notice from the date the change takes effect (Sonderkündigungsrecht).

Switching supplier

Switching is free. Your new supplier cancels your old contract and coordinates with the grid operator. You keep power at all times. Since 2026, the technical switch itself must be possible within 24 hours on working days. Your old contract's notice period still applies.

Moving out or moving house

• Grundversorgung: cancel with two weeks' notice.
• Special contract: you have a special right to cancel when you move, with six weeks' notice before the move. Give your new address. If your supplier offers to supply your new home on the same terms within two weeks, the special right lapses and the contract moves with you.
• On your last day, read the meter and photograph it. Send the reading to your supplier.

Common problems

I moved in and never registered for electricity. Will they cut me off?

Not immediately. You are in Grundversorgung automatically and will get a bill. Register now with the default supplier or a new supplier, and give your move-in meter reading.

My first bill includes the previous tenant's use. What can I do?

Send your supplier the photo of the meter reading from your move-in day and ask for a corrected bill.

My Abschlag is much higher than I expected. Can I change it?

Ask your supplier to adjust it based on your real use, for example with a current meter reading. If you pay too little, you will face a large back-payment later.

Who do I complain to about an electricity bill?

First to your supplier. If that fails, the Bundesnetzagentur's energy consumer service and the energy arbitration board (Schlichtungsstelle Energie) can help.

Costs

You pay the price per kWh plus a monthly base fee. Prices vary by supplier and region. Switching and cancelling are free of charge.