German households pay some of the highest electricity prices in Europe — but switching supplier can save you up to €500 per year. Here's everything you need to know to find the cheapest deal in 2026.
Germany's electricity prices have stabilised in 2026 after the volatility of recent years, but they remain among the highest in Europe. The average German household pays around €1,400-1,800 per year for electricity, with significant variation depending on location, consumption and supplier.
The German energy market was fully liberalised in 1998, meaning you have complete freedom to choose your electricity and gas supplier regardless of where you live. Yet millions of Germans remain on expensive default tariffs from their local utility — often paying 20-30% more than they need to.
Around 40% of German households have never switched energy supplier. Those who do switch save an average of €300-500 per year according to the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency).
| Tariff Type | Average Price per kWh | Annual Cost (3,500 kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic supply (Grundversorger) | ~34-38 ct/kWh | €1,190-1,330 |
| Standard market tariff | ~28-32 ct/kWh | €980-1,120 |
| Best online deal | ~22-26 ct/kWh | €770-910 |
Germany's largest independent energy comparison site. Enter your postcode and consumption to instantly see all available tariffs. Many exclusive online deals only available through Verivox. Free to use, switch handled entirely online.
Germany's most popular comparison portal. Excellent for bundling electricity and gas comparison in one search. Often has cashback deals and welcome bonuses on top of competitive tariffs. Strong customer service.
100% certified renewable electricity from German wind and solar. Consistently rated one of Germany's most ethical energy suppliers. Competitive pricing for green energy, typically only €5-10 more per month than the cheapest conventional tariff.
RWE-owned digital supplier with consistently competitive rates. The switching process takes under 5 minutes online and Yello handles your cancellation with your old supplier. Good app and transparent billing.
Switching energy supplier in Germany (Anbieterwechsel) is straightforward and fully protected by law. Here's how it works:
Check your current contract's notice period (Kündigungsfrist) before switching. Most tariffs require 4-6 weeks notice. If you're in a fixed-term contract, check the end date — you can switch at any point but may need to pay a cancellation fee.
The question of fixed versus variable tariffs is particularly important in Germany given recent energy price volatility. In 2026, with prices more stable, fixed-rate tariffs for 12-24 months offer peace of mind at rates competitive with variable tariffs. For most households, a 12-month fixed tariff through Verivox or Check24 offers the best combination of price certainty and flexibility.
If you use both electricity and gas (common in German homes with gas heating), many suppliers offer combination tariffs with an additional discount of €50-100 per year. E.ON, Vattenfall and EnBW all offer competitive bundle deals worth comparing against separate supplier options.
The single best action any German household can take in 2026 is to run a comparison on Verivox or Check24 with their current consumption figures. Most households switching from a Grundversorger tariff will save €200-500 immediately, with the entire process taking under 15 minutes.