Direct answer
An average Austrian household with 3,500 kWh annual consumption pays about 28-34 cents per kWh in 2026. Only the energy charge is switchable through the supplier; the grid fee (regulated by E-Control) and the levies are not. Switching takes at most three weeks under § 76 ElWOG and typically saves between EUR 120 and EUR 380 per year.
TL;DR
- Electricity price = energy (40-55 %) + grid fee (25-30 %) + taxes/levies (20-30 %).
- Only the energy charge is switchable, the grid fee stays regional and fixed.
- A switch takes max three weeks, the supply is never interrupted, and it is free.
- The price brake ended on 31 December 2024, so a tariff review is especially worthwhile in 2026.
- Disputes: E-Control runs a free arbitration body.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to switch supplier
Concrete switching walkthrough with the most common pitfalls in Austria.
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.
Sonnen-Rabatt & smart meter
How the nationwide off-peak rebate works with smart meters from 2026.
Verbund tariffs explained
Tariffs, terms and switching options at the largest Austrian power producer.
PV & wallbox subsidies
Federal and state grants for PV systems, storage and wallbox at a glance.
Common questions about electricity in Austria
How many electricity providers operate in Austria?
How long does switching electricity providers take?
When can I cancel my electricity contract?
What happens if the switch goes wrong?
Is green electricity worth it in Austria?
What is the difference between energy charge and grid fee?
Sources and further reading
More guide topics
Latest articles from the Energy blog
Switch Electricity Provider Austria 2026: Step-by-Step
Switching electricity provider in Austria is free, takes max three weeks by law, and you keep power throughout. The 2026 guide with sources.
Read more →
Electricity Price Cap Ended: What Applies in Austria in 2026
Austria's Strompreisbremse expired on 31 December 2024. What does that mean for households in 2026? We explain the consequences, the new 2026 grid fees and what concrete steps make sense.
Read more →
Solar Panel & Wallbox Subsidies Austria 2026: Verified Rates and Sources
PV, battery storage and wallbox subsidies in Austria 2026: current EAG rates, KPC wallbox status, bonuses, state grants — with official sources.
Read more →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 calculatorAlternatively, 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.