Heating electricity: heat pump and storage heater

What heating electricity is

Heating electricity (Heizstrom) means electricity for electric heating, above all for heat pumps and storage heaters. There are special tariffs for it, which are often cheaper than normal household electricity. The heating is usually on a meter of its own.

The choice of heating electricity tariffs is generally smaller than for normal household electricity. So it is worth comparing carefully.

Heat pump tariff

A heat pump tariff applies to the electricity the heat pump uses. It often runs through a separate meter. This meter then has its own supply point and so its own market location ID (Marktlokations-ID), and the contract is separate from household electricity.

For controllable devices such as heat pumps, grid operators (Netzbetreiber) often offer reduced grid fees (Netzentgelte). In return, the grid operator may limit the power for a time. What applies to you is in your grid operator’s terms.

Storage heaters and dual-tariff meters

Storage heaters charge mainly at night, when electricity on the grid is cheaper. For this there are dual-tariff meters (Zweitarifzähler), which keep two readings: one for the high tariff (HT) during the day and one for the low tariff (NT) at night. Which hours belong to which tariff is set by the grid operator.

On the bill you therefore see two usage figures and often two unit rates (Arbeitspreise).

What you give for the comparison

Give the annual usage of your heating meter, for a dual-tariff meter separately for high and low tariff. If the bill covers only part of the year, we scale the usage up. Because heating uses more in winter, we take the season into account and mark the figure yellow for you to check.

• Usage in kWh, for dual tariff separately for HT and NT
• Type of system, heat pump or storage heater
• Whether the heating is on a meter of its own
• Meter number (Zählernummer) and, if available, the market location ID

What does not change when you switch

The switch only affects the electricity supplier. The meter, heating and grid connection stay as they are, and the system keeps running. If you want to change the meter, for example to combine household and heating, you agree that separately with the grid operator. A change of provider does not replace that.

In principle you can also switch in the middle of the heating season. All that matters is that the new contract begins when the old one ends, so that the heating does not run on replacement supply (Ersatzversorgung).

What to look for in offers

Besides the unit rate, also look at the standing charge (Grundpreis). A low unit rate with a high standing charge can be more expensive if you use little. Also check the term (Laufzeit), notice period and price guarantee (Preisgarantie), and there is more in the article on term, notice period and price guarantee. For heating electricity the choice is limited, so we look at the conditions closely with you.