Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links to electricity comparison services. If you switch providers through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Prices shown are from provider websites and comparison platforms, verified 21 September 2026.

Electricity Deals in Germany

The average household electricity price in Germany was about 37.0 ct/kWh across all contracts (BDEW, Herbst 2026). Grundversorgung tariffs run noticeably higher than switching tariffs. If you are still on Grundversorgung (default local supply), you are likely overpaying. Compare current deals at your address below.

Looking for a full comparison guide? Electricity comparison guide | Green electricity deals

Find the Cheapest Electricity at Your Address

Enter your postal code and annual kWh consumption. Results show total annual costs including all fees, taxes, and any welcome bonuses.

Loading comparison tool...

Free comparison, no registration needed. SSL encrypted.

Average Price (all contracts)

37.0 ct/kWh

BDEW, Herbst 2026 (21.08.2026)

Neukunden Switching Tariffs

~29.35 ct/kWh

stromauskunft.de, 15.09.2026

Switching Savings

~27% cheaper

cheapest Sondervertrag vs. Grundversorgung, vzbv Oct 2025

Are You Overpaying on Grundversorgung?

When you move into a new apartment in Germany, you are automatically assigned to the local Grundversorger (default utility provider). This is convenient but almost always the most expensive option. Grundversorgung rates are set by the local provider.

The good news: you can cancel Grundversorgung with just 2 weeks notice at any time (§ 20 StromGVV). No long contract, no cancellation fee. Your new provider handles the switch for you. If you want 100% renewable energy, see our green electricity comparison.

Quick Math: 3,500 kWh Household

Grundversorgung

~40.37 ct/kWh = ~1,413 EUR/year

Neukunden Tariff

~29.35 ct/kWh = ~1,027 EUR/year

Savings

~386 EUR/year

Based on stromauskunft.de Grundversorgung average (40.37 ct/kWh) vs Neukunden switching tariff (29.35 ct/kWh), both 15.09.2026, 3,500 kWh consumption.

Price Guarantee: What to Look For

Electricity prices in Germany fluctuate. A price guarantee (Preisgarantie) locks your rate for a set period. Here is what consumer advocates recommend:

12-Month Price Guarantee

The recommended minimum. Protects your rate for the full initial contract period. Most comparison tools let you filter by guarantee length. Consumer advocates such as Verbraucherzentrale recommend at least a 12-month price guarantee.

What Is Not Guaranteed

Taxes, surcharges, and grid fees are usually excluded from price guarantees. For 2026, Germany’s transmission grid operators reduced network fees using a 6.5 billion EUR federal subsidy (§ 24a EnWG, confirmed in the final 2026 Preisblatt, published 05.12.2025), but your provider may not pass the full benefit through automatically. A new contract captures the current rate.

Need a loan for moving costs? Small loans in Germany | English-speaking bank loans

Understanding New-Customer Bonuses

New-customer bonuses on the comparison tool above usually come in two forms. A Sofortbonus is usually paid about 60 days after your supply starts; a Neukundenbonus is typically paid only after roughly one year of supply. Many bonus tariffs get much more expensive from the second year, so they mainly pay off if you switch again after twelve months (Verbraucherzentrale, 05.08.2026; Finanztip, 08.07.2026). To judge a tariff over the long run, the Verbraucherzentrale suggests leaving bonuses out of the portal filter at first and comparing the plain annual cost. Providers often pay the bonus only if neither they nor another brand of the same group supplied you in the previous six months (Verivox). Always check the exact terms shown in the widget above before signing.

For a full walkthrough of prices, switching and your rights, see our electricity comparison guide.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

1. Switch from Grundversorgung to a market tariff

This is the single biggest saving. Cancel Grundversorgung with 2 weeks notice (§ 20 StromGVV) and switch to a competitive tariff. On average, the cheapest Sondervertrag is about 27% cheaper than Grundversorgung (vzbv, October 2025).

2. Use your special cancellation right on price increases

If your provider raises the price, you can cancel without notice, effective on the day the increase applies (Sonderkündigungsrecht: § 41 Abs. 5 EnWG for market tariffs, § 5 Abs. 3 StromGVV for Grundversorgung). For market tariffs the one exception is a change in the statutory VAT rate that is passed on unchanged (§ 41 Abs. 6 EnWG). Market-tariff providers must give 1 month’s notice; Grundversorgung providers must give 6 weeks (§ 5 Abs. 2 StromGVV).

3. Compare annually when your contract ends

After the initial contract period (usually 12 or 24 months), your contract auto-renews month to month. This is the best time to switch again and capture the latest deals.

4. Check your actual consumption

A 2-person household uses about 1,900 kWh/year in an apartment, or 2,700 kWh in a house (Stromspiegel 2025). If your bill assumes higher consumption, you are overpaying in monthly installments. Adjust your Abschlag (monthly payment) based on actual usage.

5. Benefit from the 2026 network fee subsidy

Germany’s transmission grid operators reduced network fees for 2026, backed by a 6.5 billion EUR federal subsidy (§ 24a EnWG, final 2026 Preisblatt, 05.12.2025). If your current provider has not reflected this, switching locks in the current rate.

New to Germany? Start Here

You already have electricity

When you move in, you are automatically on Grundversorgung. The lights work from day one. But you should switch to a cheaper provider as soon as possible. Most providers run a SCHUFA credit check before accepting you; Grundversorgung is the exception, since the local utility must supply you regardless of your SCHUFA record (§ 36 EnWG). Learn more about building your SCHUFA score.

English-friendly providers

Ostrom (ostrom.de/en) states that its website, app and customer support are in English and that it supplies TÜV-certified green electricity. The comparison form above is in German.

More for expats: SCHUFA explained for foreigners | Loans for foreigners in Germany

Electricity Deals in Germany: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest electricity tariff in Germany right now?

On 15.09.2026 stromauskunft.de put the cheapest new-customer (Neukunden) tariff at 29.35 ct/kWh on average. The BDEW average across all contracts was about 37.0 ct/kWh (Herbst 2026). If you are on Grundversorgung (default local supply), you are likely paying more; stromauskunft.de measured the Grundversorgung average at 40.37 ct/kWh on the same date. Entering your postal code in a comparison tool shows the cheapest options at your address.

How much can I actually save by switching electricity providers?

Based on stromauskunft.de figures (15.09.2026), switching from the Grundversorgung average (40.37 ct/kWh) to a Neukunden tariff (29.35 ct/kWh) saves about 386 EUR per year for a 3,500 kWh household. The vzbv (Germany’s federal consumer association) found in October 2025 that the cheapest Sondervertrag is on average about 27 percent cheaper than Grundversorgung, though 49 percent of households are unaware of the difference. Exact savings depend on your current rate, annual consumption, and location.

What is a price guarantee and should I get one?

A price guarantee (Preisgarantie) locks your electricity rate for a set period, usually 12 or 24 months. It protects you from price increases during the contract. Consumer advocates such as Verbraucherzentrale recommend choosing a tariff with at least a 12-month price guarantee. Note that taxes and government surcharges are often excluded from the guarantee, so your bill could still change slightly.

Can I cancel my electricity contract if the provider raises the price?

Yes. If your provider raises the price, you can cancel without notice, effective on the day the increase applies (Sonderkündigungsrecht: § 41 Abs. 5 EnWG for market tariffs, § 5 Abs. 3 StromGVV for Grundversorgung). For market tariffs the one exception is a change in the statutory VAT rate that is passed on unchanged (§ 41 Abs. 6 EnWG). Market-tariff providers must give at least 1 month’s notice of a price increase (§ 41 Abs. 5 EnWG); Grundversorgung providers must give 6 weeks (§ 5 Abs. 2 StromGVV).

How long does switching electricity providers take?

The online application takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The actual switch typically takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on your current contract. If you are on Grundversorgung, you can cancel with just 2 weeks notice (§ 20 StromGVV). Your new provider handles all paperwork, including canceling your old contract. Your electricity supply is never interrupted during the switch; since 1 January 2026, the technical changeover itself may take at most 24 hours (§ 20a Abs. 2 EnWG).

Are grid fees dropping in 2026, and does that affect my bill?

Yes, network fees for 2026 came down. Germany’s four transmission grid operators lowered transmission network fees, backed by a 6.5 billion EUR federal subsidy under Section 24a EnWG (TransnetBW, provisional announcement 01.10.2025; confirmed in the final 2026 Preisblatt, published 05.12.2025). This should lower electricity costs for most households, but whether you see the full benefit depends on your provider passing the savings through. Switching to a new tariff is the best way to capture current rates.

Stop Overpaying for Electricity

Free comparison, no registration. See what you could save at your address.

Related Energy Comparisons

Electricity Compare

Full guide

Green Electricity

Certified renewable

Gas Compare

Heating gas

Gas Prices 2026

Full price guide

Internet Compare

DSL, cable, fiber

Also available: Stromvergleich (Deutsch) | Electricity Prices Guide | Gasvergleich | Mobile Tariff Comparison