Do I need to change my electricity supplier?

With electricity and gas, you can often save €200 to €500 a year, depending on family size, by switching and choosing from hundreds of tariffs. Changing providers is simple and usually goes smoothly. We will show you the best way to do it.

The main points in brief:

When changing 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 cancelling your current electricity or gas contract, you can usually ask your new supplier to do this for you. However, this is not always possible and sometimes you need to cancel the contract yourself.

Is there a risk of a gas or electricity supply interruption when switching suppliers?

Interruptions in the gas or electricity supply due to changing providers are ruled out. Energy purchasing is regulated by German law. In the event of difficulties, you will receive energy from the regional default supplier in your area. From a technical point of view, changing suppliers changes nothing regarding 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 changing tariffs, nobody will visit your flat or change any equipment.

How quickly does the supplier switch take place?

The actual change of supplier must not last longer than three weeks. However, this only applies to the purely switching process from the moment your new energy supplier contacts the network operator.

How does the change of supplier take place?

1. Prepare the necessary data and determine the deadlines.

If you have your most recent electricity or gas bill, you can determine your annual consumption, which is important data when choosing a new supplier. The bill also indicates the next possible cancellation date for your current contract. If your contract has more than three months left to run, you should postpone your search for a new energy supplier. Offers on the market are constantly changing and new interesting deals appear.

If you have just moved or have never changed your tariff, you are most likely on a standard tariff from your regional default supplier. 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 your postcode and annual electricity consumption.

You can find the consumption on your gas or electricity bills. If you do not have data for a whole year, calculate it based on average monthly readings. In the case of gas, you should bear in mind that gas consumption is distributed unevenly throughout the year. You also need to take into account, if you have electric heating, that consumption in the colder months is significantly higher.

If you do not know your consumption, choose the standard values offered by tariff online calculators on aggregator portals. They are based on the number of people consuming electricity and the size of the flat.

2. Select a new tariff.

What to look out for:

— the more accurately you have determined your average annual consumption, the more advantageous a tariff you will be able to choose.

most often the tariff consists of:

- base maintenance fee (Grundpreis) of N euros per month

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

Depending on your consumption pattern, a tariff with a low standing charge but a high price per kilowatt – or vice versa – may be the most cost-effective option.

Once you have made your choice, take a screenshot showing the key details of the tariff, particularly the terms and conditions for earning bonuses. Compare this screenshot later with your order confirmation. This screenshot may be helpful should any discrepancies arise with your new supplier.

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

Once you have decided on a tariff, you can sign a new contract either directly with the supplier or via a tariff comparison website. In either case, the new supplier will cancel your previous contract on your behalf, provided you give them the necessary authorisation.

Please note: You must terminate the old contract yourself if the time to cancel the old contract is very tight! If the notice period is about to end and the contract is automatically renewed, you must cancel it yourself.

This also applies to non-standard termination cases, for example due to a price increase by the current supplier. In non-standard cases, do not rely on the 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 supplier. It is often possible to tick the relevant box on the new supplier's order form, for example: «I have terminated my old contract myself.».

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

Your previous supplier will send you the final settlement statement. They have six weeks from the end of the contract to do so.

4. Please note your right to cancel 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 applies not only to online contracts, but also to contracts that you enter into by telephone or in writing.

You may withdraw your consent within 14 days of receiving instructions on the rules governing the cancellation of the contract. As a rule, this is the day the contract is concluded, because along with your order confirmation you will also receive instructions regarding your right to cancel the contract and a cancellation form. However, if you entered into the contract on the supplier’s premises, you do not have the right to cancel.

5. Submit your meter reading

Take a meter reading on the day of the changeover. To avoid any misunderstandings, please inform the regional network operator and your old and new electricity or gas suppliers of the meter reading.

6. Plan for the next change of supplier.

You should mark the next possible end date or the time when you wish to compare prices again in your calendar, so that you don’t miss any deadlines.

Do I need to change my electricity supplier?

With electricity and gas, you can often save €200 to €500 a year, depending on family size, by switching and choosing from hundreds of tariffs. Changing providers is simple and usually goes smoothly. We will show you the best way to do it.

The main points in brief:

When changing 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 cancelling your current electricity or gas contract, you can usually ask your new supplier to do this for you. However, this is not always possible and sometimes you need to cancel the contract yourself.

Is there a risk of a gas or electricity supply interruption when switching suppliers?

How quickly does the supplier switch take place?

The actual change of supplier must not last longer than three weeks. However, this only applies to the purely switching process from the moment your new energy supplier contacts the network operator.

How does the change of supplier take place?

1. Prepare the necessary data and determine the deadlines.

If you have just moved or have never changed your tariff, you are most likely on a standard tariff from your regional default supplier. You can terminate the contract at any time with 14 days' notice.

If you do not know your consumption, choose the standard values offered by tariff online calculators on aggregator portals. They are based on the number of people consuming electricity and the size of the flat.

2. Select a new tariff.

What to look out for:

— the more accurately you have determined your average annual consumption, the more advantageous a tariff you will be able to choose.

most often the tariff consists of:

- base maintenance fee (Grundpreis) of N euros per month

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

Depending on your consumption pattern, a tariff with a low standing charge but a high price per kilowatt – or vice versa – may be the most cost-effective option.

Once you have made your choice, take a screenshot showing the key details of the tariff, particularly the terms and conditions for earning bonuses. Compare this screenshot later with your order confirmation. This screenshot may be helpful should any discrepancies arise with your new supplier.

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

Once you have decided on a tariff, you can sign a new contract either directly with the supplier or via a tariff comparison website. In either case, the new supplier will cancel your previous contract on your behalf, provided you give them the necessary authorisation.

Please note: You must terminate the old contract yourself if the time to cancel the old contract is very tight! If the notice period is about to end and the contract is automatically renewed, you must cancel it yourself.

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

Your previous supplier will send you the final settlement statement. They have six weeks from the end of the contract to do so.

4. Please note your right to cancel 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 applies not only to online contracts, but also to contracts that you enter into by telephone or in writing.

5. Submit your meter reading

Take a meter reading on the day of the changeover. To avoid any misunderstandings, please inform the regional network operator and your old and new electricity or gas suppliers of the meter reading.

6. Plan for the next change of supplier.

You should mark the next possible end date or the time when you wish to compare prices again in your calendar, so that you don’t miss any deadlines.

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