Setting Up Electricity, Gas, and Internet in Your First Apartment

Move into your first apartment and simply flip the light switch, and you've automatically entered into an electricity contract, without ever signing anything. That's convenient for your first evening, but usually the most expensive option in the long run.

What happens automatically without your own contract

If nobody moves into an apartment with an active contract, the local basic supplier (Grundversorger) automatically steps in, for example because signing up with a provider after the move got forgotten. Simply by using electricity, such as flipping the light switch for the first time, you enter into an implied energy supply contract with that basic supplier, with no active sign-up needed. Germany's Energy Industry Act requires one company in every grid area, usually the provider with the most household customers locally, to provide this basic supply. If you don't know who the basic supplier is at your address, you can find out from the local grid operator or the Federal Network Agency.

Why basic supply is rarely the cheapest option

Basic supply is meant as a stopgap, not a special deal. Rates are usually higher than what you can get by actively switching contracts or using a comparison site, because the basic supplier is obligated to supply every household regardless of its consumption profile, and factors that obligation into the price. One advantage remains: with the basic supplier, the contract can be cancelled at any time with just fourteen days' notice, according to Verbraucherzentrale, as soon as you've found a better deal.

How switching actually works in practice

To switch contracts, you need the meter number, found either on the meter itself or on the basic supplier's first bill, plus the previous meter reading as of your move-in date. If you're not taking over an existing contract, you sign up as a new customer with the new provider and give your address and desired start date. The new provider usually cancels the basic supply contract automatically on your behalf, so there's no duplicate effort.

Internet isn't a legal requirement, but rarely available right away

Unlike electricity, there's no automatic basic supply for internet, so a new apartment simply has no internet connection at all without its own contract. Setup takes several weeks depending on the provider and line availability at your address, which is why it's worth signing up right after signing the apartment lease, not just on move-in day itself.

Our first apartment cost guide breaks down what other ongoing costs come up alongside electricity and internet in a first apartment, and our Anmeldung guide covers the address-registration deadline and what follow-on costs like the broadcasting fee it triggers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don't sign up for my own electricity contract?

The local basic supplier delivers automatically as soon as electricity is used. This is legal, but usually more expensive than an actively chosen contract.