Electricity in Austria 2026: Guide, Costs & Providers

Austria has run a fully liberalised electricity market since the ElWOG 2010 came into effect. As a customer, you actually have two contracts: one with the regional grid operator, which you cannot change, and one with the supplier (Stromlieferant), which you can. The supplier contract is what moves the bill. We walk through what it looks like, what a kilowatt-hour realistically costs in 2026 and how the switching process works.

What does 1 kWh of electricity cost in Austria in 2026?

The price you pay has three building blocks: the energy charge (negotiable, set by your supplier), the grid fee (regulated by E-Control, different per state) and taxes plus levies (electricity duty, VAT, green-power funding). Only the energy charge changes when you switch supplier. The other two are fixed by where you live.

How the kilowatt-hour price breaks down

Energy charge (negotiable)

about 40-55 %

This is what switching changes.

Grid fee (regulated by E-Control)

about 25-30 %

Depends on your state, not switchable.

Taxes, duties, green-power levy

about 20-30 %

Same nationwide.

Shares rounded, based on the E-Control 2026 market report. Real-world shares vary with consumption and tariff.

Electricity prices per state 2026

Reference values for a household with 3,500 kWh annual consumption, including energy charge, grid fee and levies. Status: Q1 2026, based on publicly published tariffs of major regional suppliers and the E-Control tariff calculator.

State

Reference

Notes

Vorarlberg

~28 ct/kWh

Tends to be cheaper thanks to local hydropower

Upper Austria

~30 ct/kWh

Energie AG OÖ is the dominant utility

Burgenland

~31 ct/kWh

Energie Burgenland with high wind share

Styria

~31 ct/kWh

Energie Steiermark serves most households

Salzburg

~32 ct/kWh

Salzburg AG covers city and region

Tyrol

~32 ct/kWh

TIWAG with a strong hydropower mix

Vienna

~33 ct/kWh

Wien Energie supplies the capital

Lower Austria

~33 ct/kWh

EVN dominates the regional market

Carinthia

~34 ct/kWh

KELAG is the main regional utility

Major electricity providers in Austria

According to E-Control, well over 100 licensed electricity suppliers operate in Austria. The names below are the largest regional utilities and often the default for new movers. Staying with the default is rarely the cheapest option.

Wien EnergieVerbundEVNEnergie SteiermarkTIWAGSalzburg AGKELAGEnergie AG OÖEnergie Burgenlandillwerke vkw

Detail: Verbund tariffs explained →

Switching the supplier: how E-Control defines the process

A switch is legally capped at three weeks under § 76 of the ElWOG. In practice, the new supplier handles the cancellation and reports the meter reading to the grid operator. Your supply does not get interrupted, because the grid operator delivers electricity regardless of the supplier contract.

1
Find your annual bill
It lists your consumption in kWh and the meter point number (33 characters starting with AT).
2
Check tariffs
The E-Control tariff calculator shows licensed suppliers and projected annual costs for your postcode.
3
Place the order
Sign up directly with the new supplier. They terminate the old contract for you.
4
Wait for confirmation
You usually receive a delivery start date within two to three weeks.
5
Note the meter reading
On the switch day, write the meter reading down. It is your reference for the closing invoice.

Your rights when switching

The switch itself is free of charge. A 14-day right of withdrawal applies under the Distance Selling Act (FAGG).
Your supply cannot be cut because of the switch. Grid delivery is independent from the supplier contract.
If the bill does not match the offer, the E-Control arbitration body handles disputes free of charge.

How much you can realistically save

Headline "up to" numbers help no one. A range is more useful. The values below are based on typical differences between the default tariff of the regional utility and the cheapest licensed alternatives in Q1 2026, for an average household.

Single household, 1,500 kWh/year

around €60-150 per year

Couple, 2,500 kWh/year

around €120-260 per year

Family, 3,500 kWh/year

around €180-380 per year

Large household, 5,000 kWh/year

around €260-540 per year

Real savings depend on your current tariff. Anyone already on a discount tariff saves less. Anyone still on the default tariff usually saves more.

Electricity topics in detail

We have separate guides on each of the following. Rather than dilute them on this overview page, we link them here directly.

Provider guide 2026

Tariff types, contract terms and the small-print details that actually matter.

Step-by-step switch guide

From reading consumption on your annual bill to the first invoice from the new supplier.

Dynamic electricity tariffs

Hourly spot prices linked to the power exchange. When they pay off, when they do not.

Social electricity tariff

Which households qualify for reduced tariffs and how the application works.

Grid fees by state

Why your postcode partly determines the non-switchable share of the bill.

End of the price brake

What changed for private households from January 2025 onwards.

Common questions about electricity in Austria

How many electricity providers operate in Austria?

According to the regulator E-Control, more than 100 licensed electricity suppliers are active in Austria. How many of them serve your specific postcode varies, typically between 30 and 70.

How long does switching electricity providers take?

Under § 76 of the ElWOG, switching is capped at three weeks. In practice, it usually takes 14 to 21 days. During the process, your supply is unaffected because the grid operator stays the same.

When can I cancel my electricity contract?

For open-ended contracts, you can cancel any time, observing the contractual notice period of usually two to eight weeks. Fixed-term tariffs run until the agreed end date. In most cases, the new supplier files the cancellation for you.

What happens if the switch goes wrong?

For disputes around invoices or the switching process, E-Control runs a free arbitration body (Schlichtungsstelle). You need to have contacted the supplier directly first. Details are available on the E-Control website.

Is green electricity worth it in Austria?

Pure green-power tariffs are usually no more expensive than standard tariffs, sometimes cheaper in promotions. What matters is the certificate: independent labels (Umweltzeichen, ok-power) carry more weight than pure marketing claims.

What is the difference between energy charge and grid fee?

You pay the energy charge to your supplier, and switching changes it. The grid fee goes to your regional grid operator and is regulated by E-Control. It cannot be switched and varies noticeably between states.

Sources and further reading

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Tariff check via our partner calculator

If you want to take the next step: our partner durchblicker.at lets you check tariffs for your postcode and place the switch online.

Open the durchblicker.at tariff calculator

Alternatively, the official E-Control tariff calculator works just as well.

All prices are reference values. The binding price is always your supplier’s individual offer. Status: Q1 2026.

Electricity in Austria: Providers, Costs and Switching

Electricity price brake: ended on 31 December 2024