Understanding Electricity Billing in Germany ⚡

Was it just me or did you also experience culture shock figuring out how paying for electricity works in Germany? 

Electricity costs are calculated in a rather unique way in Germany. Unlike in other countries, your monthly electricity bill in Germany is calculated based on your estimated electricity consumption, NOT your actual consumption.

Germany is still pretty old school. So electricity providers are only able to send you your actual electricity bill once a year when someone comes to take down your meter reading.

To avoid people having to fork out a huge bill at the end of 12 months. Electricity providers use an estimated electricity usage amount to calculate what you should pay monthly.

That way when you finally receive your electricity bill, you’ll either get money refunded to you because your usage was less than estimated. Or you have to pay extra for using more than your estimated electricity consumption.

Your electricity bill for the following year will then be adjusted lower or higher based on your actual electricity consumption in the previous year.

The concept was a bit new when we first arrived. But now we really appreciate it because it means that it is easier to budget for your cost of living. 

What do you think? 

If you trying to figure out how to sign up for an electricity contract in Germany, check out our helpful guides:

https://nomadandinlove.com/living-abroad/electricity-in-germany/

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