Munich - Electricity

Electricity (Elektrizität)
Although there are a lot of companies providing competition for the electricity market, you are required to use the SWM for the first month. After 1 month you can change to one of the private service providers. If you don't change provider immediately at the end of the month you must stay with the SWM for another year. It is advisable to stay with the SWM for 1 year so that you get an idea of how much electricity you use in kilowatt hours. Once you know this figure you can compare the rates of other providers on www.billigstrom.de (type in your post code and the number of kilowatt hours you use, then a list of the seven cheapest providers servicing your area will appear). You can change to one of these providers online or by phoning. Be careful though, although other electricity companies might have a lower charge per kilowatt hour, their basic fee may make the overall cost more expensive. Electricity is charged to the tenant directly.

Stadtwerke München (SWM)
Kapellenweg 4-6
Munich
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 89 23 610
website: http://www.swm.de/

Other electricity providers:

GGEW Gruppen-Gas- und Elektrizitätswerk
Dammstraße 68
Bensheim
Germany
64625
Tel: + 49 (0) 6251 13010
email: [email protected]

LichtBlick - die Zukunft der Energie GmbH
Max-Brauer-Allee 44
Hamburg
22765
Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 1802 660 660
Mo-Fr 8:00am - 8:00pm / 6 cents per call
email:  [email protected]

NaturEnergie
website: www.naturenergie.de

E.ON Energie AG
Brienner Str. 40
Munich
Germany
Tel: + 49  (0) 800 288 8882

Electricity is billed monthly. The total cost for the previous year is divided by 12, and you are billed this amount every month. At the end of the year you are either given a refund, or charged a little extra so that your final payment matches the actual usage for the year. It is best to set up a standing order for these monthly payments. Don't forget to cancel the standing order three months in advance of moving house!