Switching gas providers in Germany: step-by-step guide (2026)

If you pay for gas yourself, you can often save hundreds of euros — basic supply, special termination, bonus traps and switching with no supply interruption.

VertragSpar EditorialPublished on 30 June 202611 min

Do you actually have your own gas contract?

Not every household can switch gas providers. What matters is who receives the bill: if gas consumption appears on your own energy supplier bill, you can switch. If you only pay for gas through the service charge (Nebenkosten) to your landlord, the contract is usually with the landlord — then you cannot choose the provider yourself.

Typically with your own gas contract: gas floor heating (Gasetagenheizung), detached house with a gas boiler. Typically without your own contract: district heating, gas included in rent as a service charge item.

Check your latest gas bill or rental contract. If it shows a supplier name like E.ON, Vattenfall or Stadtwerke with a meter number and kWh consumption, you are the right person to switch.

What you need before comparing

Get your latest annual bill ready. It contains your postal code, annual consumption in kWh, current provider, contract end date and notice period. The meter number is on the gas meter and on the bill.

Rough consumption guide: flat with gas floor heating around 8,000–12,000 kWh per year, detached house with gas boiler often 15,000–25,000 kWh — depending on building age, insulation and heating habits. Estimate honestly: quoting too low leads to a seemingly cheap tariff and a hefty bill at year-end.

The gas price consists of a base fee (monthly fixed charge) and a unit price (cents per kWh). Always compare both — a low cent price helps little if the base fee is high.

Basic supply and special termination rights

If you never actively chose a gas provider, you are in basic supply (Grundversorgung) — the default tariff of the local supplier. That is almost always the most expensive option. The legal notice period is just two weeks.

If your provider raises the price, you gain a special right to terminate, effective when the increase takes effect — regardless of the agreed term. The notice arrives by letter or email; act promptly.

Since 2022, contracts may no longer auto-renew for a full year after the minimum term — they become monthly cancellable with one month's notice. This applies to gas exactly as it does to electricity.

Read the tariff properly: bonus, price guarantee, CO₂ levy

The cheapest place in a comparison often comes from a new-customer or instant bonus. Check: is the bonus credited immediately or paid out only after 12 months? What is the price in year two without the bonus?

Look at the price guarantee. A limited guarantee covers only the pure gas unit price — taxes, levies and grid fees can still change. For most households that is perfectly fine.

Since 2021 a CO₂ levy applies to fossil gas, included in the unit price. The share depends on your supplier. It is not a hidden surcharge but a statutory component — tariff comparison still pays off because supplier prices vary widely.

The switch runs almost by itself

Once you decide, sign up online — the new provider cancels your old contract and registers with the grid operator. You usually do not need to cancel anything yourself.

Your gas supply will never be cut off. Physical supply runs through the local grid operator and is legally protected — you only change the contract partner, not the pipe. Even if something went wrong, you would automatically fall back into basic supply.

On the switch date, read your gas meter and photograph it — that is your proof for the old provider's final bill.

After the switch: instalments and first bill

The monthly instalment is an advance payment on your expected annual consumption. Set too high, you give the provider an interest-free loan; set too low, you face a large final bill. Adjust it to your real usage.

Check the old provider's final bill: does the meter reading match your photo? Was any credit refunded? Dispute discrepancies in writing.

Set a reminder about two months before contract end. That way you avoid renewal on worse terms and can compare again in time.

Practical tips

First check whether you actually have your own gas contract — many tenants only pay gas through service charges.
Always compare base fee and unit price together, not just the cent price.
In basic supply you can cancel with two weeks' notice — the fastest way to save.

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to switch when the gas contract is with the landlord — that is not possible.
Comparing only the unit price and missing the high base fee.
Treating the new-customer bonus as the permanent price — year two is often more expensive.
Not recording the meter reading on switch day — then the final bill becomes a dispute.

Checklist before you compare

Check own gas bill or service charge statement
Have postal code and annual consumption (kWh) ready
Note meter number and contract end date
Compare base fee and unit price in the comparison
Read bonus and price guarantee terms
Sign up online — new provider cancels for you
Photograph meter reading on switch day

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch gas if I rent?

Yes, if you receive your own gas bill from an energy supplier — typical with gas floor heating. No, if gas is only paid through service charges to the landlord.

Will my gas be cut off when I switch?

No. Supply is legally protected. You only change the contract partner, not the pipe.

How much gas does a normal household use?

Flat with gas floor heating roughly 8,000–12,000 kWh/year, detached house often 15,000–25,000 kWh — depending on insulation and heating habits.

Does the special termination right apply to gas too?

Yes. On a price increase you can cancel effective when it applies. In basic supply the notice period is two weeks.