Electricity: you're auto-supplied — now switch to save
Good news first: you'll never be without power. The moment you use electricity in a new flat, a contract automatically forms with the local Grundversorger (basic supplier) under §36 Energiewirtschaftsgesetz — so the lights work on day one. The catch is that this basic tariff is usually the most expensive option. The fix is to compare and switch to a cheaper Sondertarif (comparison portals like Verivox or Check24 are the common tools; the Bundesnetzagentur also publishes neutral price info). You can leave basic supply with just two weeks' notice. To sign up you'll usually need your address, the meter number and reading (Zählernummer / Zählerstand), and German bank details for SEPA direct debit.
What it costs: the Abschlag and the annual bill
German energy isn't billed on exactly what you used each month. You pay a fixed monthly Abschlag (instalment) estimated from your expected yearly use, and once a year the supplier issues a Jahresabrechnung that reconciles it: you either get a refund (Guthaben) or owe a back-payment (Nachzahlung). As a rough guide, the average household electricity price was 40.05 ct/kWh (1 April 2025, Bundesnetzagentur), so a one- to two-person household runs roughly €680–€1,200 a year for electricity — a derived range; your actual bill depends on usage, base fee and tariff.
Gas and your cancellation rights
Gas works the same way: auto-supply via the Grundversorger, the same two-week notice to leave basic supply, and the same Abschlag-plus-reconciliation billing. The average household gas price was 12.13 ct/kWh (1 April 2025) — but gas is dominated by heating, so a flat per-person estimate isn't reliable. Two rights matter: contracts signed online, by phone or at the door carry a 14-day right of withdrawal (Widerruf), and special contracts may lock you in for an initial term of up to 24 months, so check before you sign.
Internet: DSL, cable or fibre
The main providers are Telekom, Vodafone, O2 and 1&1, over three connection types: DSL (phone line), cable (Kabel), and fibre (Glasfaser). Availability is address-specific, so check what's offered at your exact flat before choosing. You have a statutory right to a minimum service of at least 15 Mbit/s download; if the delivered speed falls well short of the contract, you can reduce payment or terminate. Ordering usually needs a German address and bank details, and physical installation can take weeks, so order early.
The contract trap: terms and your right to cancel
Since the 2021 telecoms reform (TKG), the rules favour you:
- The initial term can be at most 24 months.
- Once a contract auto-renews, you can cancel any time with one month's notice — the old automatic 12-month re-binding is gone.
- If your service is fully down for more than one working day when switching or moving, you're owed compensation — €10 per working day or 20% of the monthly fee, whichever is higher — per the Bundesnetzagentur.
Quick setup plan (and the Rundfunkbeitrag)
In order: (1) read your meters on day one; (2) you're already covered by the Grundversorger, so power and gas work; (3) compare and switch to a cheaper tariff (two weeks' notice); (4) order internet early. One thing that's not a utility but is easy to forget: the Rundfunkbeitrag (broadcasting fee), billed per household whether or not you own a TV — see the Rundfunkbeitrag guide. Then build your move-in plan so nothing slips.