Energy in Austria – the 2026 guide

How the Austrian energy market works

Tariff types you need to know

Switching providers in five steps

Switching is capped by Austrian law at three weeks (§ 76 ElWOG for electricity, § 123 GWG for gas). You do not need to cancel your old contract yourself – the new supplier handles that for you.

1. 1

   Find your annual consumption

   Pull up your most recent annual bill. You need consumption in kWh and your postcode. Without those numbers, no calculator can give you a serious comparison.

2. 2

   Pick a tariff

   Use the E-Control calculator, the AK calculator or a commercial tariff calculator. Pay attention to commitment period, price guarantee, notice period and welcome bonuses with minimum-purchase clauses.

3. 3

   Have your 33-digit metering point ID ready

   You will find it on your last bill or on your smart-meter display. It uniquely identifies your installation and is essential for the switch.

4. 4

   Submit the online application

   Enter your contract details and metering point with the new supplier. Sign the SEPA mandate and the power of attorney that authorises the new supplier to cancel the old contract.

5. 5

   Wait for confirmation

   You will usually get a switch confirmation within about 14 working days. Supply runs without interruption – Austrian regulation guarantees that explicitly.

What does a kilowatt-hour cost in Austria?

An Austrian electricity bill has roughly three building blocks: the energy price (what your supplier charges for generation and distribution), the network charges (what the regional grid operator collects for transport and metering) and taxes and levies (electricity tax, green-energy contribution, VAT). The exact split shifts with wholesale prices and your federal state; E-Control publishes the latest figures in its price monitor.

Energy subsidies in 2026

• Federal subsidies (umweltfoerderung.at)
• E-Control tariff calculator
• AK electricity & gas calculator

Eight levers to cut your energy costs

• 1.Review your tariff once a year – switching from the incumbent default to the cheapest available tariff in your federal state saves between 600 and 1,300 euros per year for an average household (source: E-Control market statistics 2026).
• 2.If you have a smart meter and large flexible loads, run the numbers on a dynamic tariff. It is not for everyone, but very effective when consumption can be shifted to off-peak hours.
• 3.Cut standby loads. Switchable power strips cost less than €20 and pay back within months.
• 4.Service the heating system once a year and check the flow temperature. An oversized boiler will burn through noticeably more gas than necessary.
• 5.Set your hot-water tank between 55 and 60 °C. Higher temperatures raise consumption without any comfort gain (source: AK consumer protection).
• 6.Check your monthly instalments – if you are paying more than your actual consumption, you are giving your supplier an interest-free loan. Reviewing and adjusting this once a year often means no lump-sum payment at year-end.
• 7.Use loyalty bonuses strategically. Many suppliers offer cheap first-year tariffs; switching again after the minimum term expires is normal practice and takes about 20 minutes online.
• 8.Look at photovoltaics if your roof is suitable. With self-consumption optimisation, payback under ten years is realistic (source: PV Austria market statistics 2025).