Do I need to change the Electricity supplier?

With electricity and gas you can often save 200 – 500 Euros per year depending on family size by switching and choosing from hundreds of tariffs. Changing providers is easy and usually goes smoothly. We'll tell you the best way to do this.

Briefly about the main thing:

When changing a supplier, there is no risk of being left without electricity and gas.

The best way to find a suitable offer is to compare tariffs on one of the aggregators Check24 or VERIVOX.

When terminating your current electricity or gas contract, you can usually ask the new supplier to do it for you. But this is not always possible and sometimes it is necessary to terminate the contract on your own.

Is there a risk of an interruption in the supply of gas or electricity when changing the provider?

Interruptions in the supply of gas or electricity due to a change of provider are excluded. Energy purchases are governed by German law. In case of difficulty, you will get the energy from a regional base supplier in your area. Technically speaking, changing the supplier doesn't change anything about the electricity or gas supply to your home. Regardless of whether you buy electricity from company A or B, the quality will be the same. When you change the tariff, no one will visit your apartment and change any equipment.

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How quickly does the supplier change?

The actual change of supplier should not take more than three weeks. However, this only applies to the clean switching process from the moment your new energy provider contacts the network operator.

How does the supplier change take place?

1. Prepare the necessary data and decide on a deadline.

If you have the last electricity or gas bill, then you can determine your annual consumption, this is important data when choosing a new supplier. The invoice will also indicate the next possible termination date for your current contract. If your contract has been in effect for more than three months, then you should postpone the search for a new energy supplier. The offers on the market are constantly changing and new interesting offers appear.

If you've just moved or have never changed your rate, then you most likely have a base rate from a regional base provider. You can terminate the contract at any time with 14 days' notice.

To be able to compare current prices with new offers, you only need the postcode and the annual electricity consumption.

You can find consumption in gas or electricity bills. If you do not have data for an entire year, then calculate based on average monthly readings. In the case of gas, it should be borne in mind that gas consumption is unevenly distributed throughout the year. You should also take into account, if you have electric heating, that consumption in cold months is much higher.

If you do not know your consumption, select the standard values that are offered by online rate calculators on aggregator portals. They are based on the number of people using electricity and the size of the apartment.

2. Select a new tariff.

What you should pay attention to:

– the more accurately you determine your average annual consumption, the more favorable tariff you can choose.

most often the tariff consists of:

– basic service price (Grzundpreis) N-Euro per month

– the cost of actually consumed electricity (Arbeitspreis) in cents per kilowatt.

Depending on the mode of consumption, a tariff with a low cost of service, but an expensive cost per kilowatt, or vice versa, may be beneficial.

Once you have made your choice, take a screenshot of the basic rate data, especially the bonus terms. Compare this screenshot later with your order confirmation. This photo can help if there is any discrepancy with the new supplier.

3. Enter into a new contract and terminate the old contract.

After you have decided on the tariff, you can conclude a new contract directly with the supplier or through the tariff comparison portal. In any case, the new supplier will cancel your previous contract for you if you give him the appropriate power of attorney.

Attention: you must terminate the old contract yourself if the time to cancel the old contract is still too late! If the notice period ends soon and an automatic renewal occurs, you must cancel it yourself.

This also applies to non-standard cases of termination, for example due to an increase in the price of the current supplier. In unusual cases, do not rely on a new supplier and terminate the contract yourself. Be sure to inform the new provider that you have already sent a termination notice to the old provider. It is often possible to mark a corresponding note in the order form of a new supplier, for example: "I myself have terminated my old contract."

A new electricity or gas contract is considered concluded as soon as the new supplier sends you the signed contract with the expected start date. You should compare the prices and terms of the contract with the information in the application.

The previous supplier sends you the final recalculation. He has 6 weeks to do this after the end of the contract.

4. Pay attention to the right to withdraw from the contract (Widerrufsrecht)

If you have entered into a contract online, you have the right to withdraw from the contract without giving a reason.

This not only applies to online contracts, but also includes contracts that you enter into by phone or letter.

You can revoke your consent within 14 days of receiving instructions on how to terminate your contract. As a rule, this is the day of the conclusion of the contract, because along with the confirmation of the order, you will also receive instructions on your right to cancel the contract and a form for cancellation. However, if you have entered into the contract on the premises of the supplier, you have no right of withdrawal.

5. Send meter readings

Take meter readings on the day of the shift. In order to avoid misunderstandings, inform the regional network operator, old and new electricity or gas supplier about the meter readings.

6. Plan your next supplier change.

You should mark the next possible end date or time on your calendar when you want to re-compare prices so you don't miss any deadlines.