Switching electricity provider: how it works

What you need for the switch

It is best to have your latest annual bill (Jahresabrechnung) to hand. It shows your meter number (Zählernummer), usage, your current price and often the end of your contract (Vertragsende). With these details, tariffs can be compared accurately. It also works without a bill: you type in the figures yourself or carry on later.

• Name and address of the supply point
• Meter number, and for electricity often the market location ID (Marktlokations-ID) as well
• Annual usage in kilowatt hours
• Customer number (Kundennummer) with your current provider
• Date of birth and bank details, only when you sign the new contract

How the switch works, step by step

The process is the same with almost every provider. You usually do not have to cancel yourself. The new provider does that for you.

• You compare tariffs and choose one.
• You take out the new contract, with us by signing on your phone.
• The new provider tells you in text form (Textform) whether it can supply you and from when.
• It cancels your old contract and registers you with the grid operator (Netzbetreiber).
• On the switch day your meter reading is recorded, and your old provider sends you the final bill (Schlussrechnung).

When a switch is worth it

A switch is worth it above all if you are on default supply (Grundversorgung), if your provider raises its prices or if your contract ends soon. Whether it pays off for you only shows when you compare using your real usage. That is why we tell you the difference to your current price with every suggestion.

How long does the switch take?

For electricity, the technical part at the grid operator is quick. Since 6 June 2025, the change of supplier is carried out there within 24 hours and is possible on every working day. The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has set this.

That does not mean your new contract starts tomorrow. The start of supply depends on when your old contract ends. For gas, the Bundesnetzagentur does not name the 24-hour rule.

Under § 20a EnWG (Energy Industry Act) the whole switching procedure may take three weeks at most, counted from your new provider registering you with the grid operator. If your preferred start date is further in the future, this deadline does not apply.

What does the switch cost?

The switch itself must not cause you any extra costs. This is set out in § 20a EnWG. A default supplier (Grundversorger) also may not charge a separate fee for a cancellation because of a switch.

We receive a commission for the referral from the energy supplier you choose. We add nothing to the tariff price.

Important to know: we compare the tariffs of our partner suppliers and not the whole market. The contract is concluded through Riora GmbH, where we are a sales partner.

Do your electricity or gas get cut off during the switch?

No. The lines and meters stay the same, only the company that sends you the bill changes. If something goes wrong during the switch, the local default supplier keeps supplying you. This replacement supply (Ersatzversorgung) is usually more expensive, which is why a well-planned start date matters.

Can I cancel the contract?

For contracts made at the front door or at a distance, the Bundesnetzagentur names a cancellation period (Widerrufsfrist) of 14 days. The details are in the new provider’s cancellation notice (Widerrufsbelehrung).