Energy Providers Price Research Austria 2026
Jules de Bruin
Expat in Vienna
Updated: May 19 2026 | Found helpful by 7 others
Updated May 19 2026. VERBUND StromKlassik at EUR 0.30/kWh and EUR 6.99 base, 100% hydropower, is the cheapest nationwide fixed tariff in Austria. aWATTar HOURLY can drop to EUR 0.18/kWh during off-peak hours for households with a smart meter and flexible load (PV, EV, heat pump). Wien Energie at EUR 0.33/kWh is the most expensive of the regional defaults. Most regional defaults sit at EUR 0.31 to 0.32/kWh. Typical residential all-in price lands around EUR 0.27 to 0.34/kWh. From January 1 2026, the federal Elektrizitätsabgabe drops from 1.5 cents/kWh to 0.1 cents/kWh, saving a typical 3500 kWh household roughly EUR 59 per year.
How Much Does Electricity Cost in Austria in 2026?
Indicative tariffs for the standard residential electricity product at each major Austrian provider, verified May 2026 from the providers' public price sheets and online sign-up flows. Prices show the energy component only (the EUR/kWh you pay the supplier plus the monthly base fee). Network fees, taxes, and the renewables surcharge add separately to your final bill. Final price depends on consumption, meter type, and any sign-up promotions.
| Provider | Tariff | EUR/kWh | Monthly base (EUR) | Green energy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERBUND | StromKlassik | 0.30 | 6.99 | 100% (hydro) | 12-month price guarantee |
| Energie Graz | Naturstrom | 0.30 | 5.50 | 100% | Graz only |
| EVN | EVN.energy | 0.31 | 5.90 | 60% | Lower Austria default |
| KELAG | KELAG Strom | 0.31 | 5.90 | 100% (hydro) | Carinthia default |
| Salzburg AG | Naturstrom | 0.31 | 5.50 | 100% | Salzburg only |
| TIWAG | TIROLstrom | 0.31 | 5.50 | 100% (hydro) | Tyrol only |
| OMV | StromGo | 0.32 | 5.90 | 0% | Nationwide |
| Energie AG OÖ | Strom Privat | 0.32 | 5.90 | 80% | Upper Austria default |
| Linz AG | Linz Strom | 0.32 | 5.50 | 100% | Linz only |
| Wien Energie | Optima Entspannt | 0.33 | 6.50 | 100% | Vienna default |
| aWATTar | HOURLY | 0.18-0.45 (variable) | 5.40 | 100% | EPEX spot-linked, smart-meter required |
Source: provider public price sheets and online sign-up flows (verbund.com, wienenergie.at, evn.at, omv.at, energie-graz.at, kelag.at, awattar.at, linzag.at, salzburg-ag.at, tiwag.at, energieag.at), April 2026. Indicative tariffs for the standard residential electricity product. Network fees, taxes, and the renewables surcharge add separately.
Cheapest fixed tariff
VERBUND StromKlassik at EUR 0.30/kWh and EUR 6.99 base, 100% hydropower, with a 12-month price guarantee. Available nationwide and our top pick for most households.
Cheapest dynamic tariff
aWATTar HOURLY linked to the EPEX spot market, can be EUR 0.18/kWh during off-peak hours. Requires a smart meter and willingness to shift consumption (PV, EV charging, heat pump) into cheap hours.
Greenest providers
VERBUND, Energie Graz, KELAG, Salzburg AG, TIWAG, Wien Energie, Linz AG, and aWATTar are all certified 100% renewable on their default tariff.
What Actually Counts in Your Electricity Bill?
The pricing table above only shows the energy component charged by the supplier. Your monthly bill is the sum of four pieces:
- Tariff energy price: the EUR/kWh you pay the supplier (the column above) plus the monthly base fee. This is the only component you can shop on.
- Network fees (Netzgebühren): charged by the local distribution system operator (DSO) in your region. Fixed by E-Control, not negotiable, billed separately or passed through.
- Federal and state taxes: Umsatzsteuer (20% VAT, applied on top of every other line) and Elektrizitätsabgabe (federal electricity levy). From January 1 2026 the Elektrizitätsabgabe drops from 1.5 cents/kWh to 0.1 cents/kWh, a 1.4 cents/kWh cut worth roughly EUR 59 per year for a 3500 kWh household after VAT.
- Renewables surcharge (Ökostromförderung), earmarked levy that funds Austria's renewable expansion. Set annually by E-Control, identical across suppliers.
Total bill = energy + network + taxes + Ökostrom surcharge. The supplier component (the only part you can shop on) is roughly 30 to 40% of a typical residential bill. That makes the EUR/kWh comparison above the highest-leverage column when switching, even though it is not the whole story.
What Is Each Austrian Provider's Price and Tariff?
Each card below shows the headline price decision factors for every major Austrian electricity provider. Use the EUR/kWh and monthly base fee together: a low base fee favours light consumption households, a low EUR/kWh favours heavy consumption.
VERBUND
NationwideStromKlassik
- Energy price
- EUR 0.30/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 6.99
- Green energy
- 100% (hydro)
- Contract note
- 12-month price guarantee
Best for: Cheapest fixed tariff with green guarantee
Energie Graz
GrazNaturstrom
- Energy price
- EUR 0.30/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.50
- Green energy
- 100%
- Contract note
- Graz only
Best for: Cheapest base fee for Graz residents
EVN
Lower AustriaEVN.energy
- Energy price
- EUR 0.31/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.90
- Green energy
- 60%
- Contract note
- NÖ default
Best for: Lower Austria default
KELAG
CarinthiaKELAG Strom
- Energy price
- EUR 0.31/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.90
- Green energy
- 100% (hydro)
- Contract note
- Carinthia default
Best for: Carinthia default with hydro
Salzburg AG
SalzburgNaturstrom
- Energy price
- EUR 0.31/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.50
- Green energy
- 100%
- Contract note
- Salzburg only
Best for: Salzburg default with low base fee
TIWAG
TyrolTIROLstrom
- Energy price
- EUR 0.31/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.50
- Green energy
- 100% (hydro)
- Contract note
- Tyrol default
Best for: Tyrol default with hydro
OMV
NationwideStromGo
- Energy price
- EUR 0.32/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.90
- Green energy
- 0%
- Contract note
- Conventional mix
Best for: Nationwide non-green option
Energie AG Oberösterreich
Upper AustriaStrom Privat
- Energy price
- EUR 0.32/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.90
- Green energy
- 80%
- Contract note
- OÖ default
Best for: Upper Austria default
Linz AG
LinzLinz Strom
- Energy price
- EUR 0.32/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.50
- Green energy
- 100%
- Contract note
- Linz only
Best for: Linz municipal default
Wien Energie
ViennaOptima Entspannt
- Energy price
- EUR 0.33/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 6.50
- Green energy
- 100%
- Contract note
- Vienna default
Best for: Vienna default with full green energy
aWATTar
NationwideHOURLY
- Energy price
- EUR 0.18-0.45 (variable)/kWh
- Monthly base
- EUR 5.40
- Green energy
- 100%
- Contract note
- EPEX spot-linked, smart-meter required
Best for: Cheapest dynamic tariff for tech-savvy users
For a curated Top-7 ranking with affiliate CTAs, see our Best Electricity Providers in Austria guide.
How Do Austrian Electricity Tariffs Cluster by Price?
Austrian residential electricity tariffs cluster into four clear price segments. Use these segments to set expectations before you compare individual providers.
Cheapest fixed tier: EUR 0.30/kWh
VERBUND StromKlassik (nationwide, EUR 6.99 base, 100% hydro, 12-month price guarantee) and Energie Graz Naturstrom (Graz only, EUR 5.50 base, 100% renewable). Both offer the lowest EUR/kWh on a fixed contract. VERBUND is the right answer for anyone outside Graz; Energie Graz wins on base fee for Graz residents.
Mid-range fixed tier: EUR 0.31 to 0.32/kWh
EVN (EUR 0.31, Lower Austria), KELAG (EUR 0.31, Carinthia, 100% hydro), Salzburg AG (EUR 0.31, Salzburg), TIWAG (EUR 0.31, Tyrol, 100% hydro), OMV (EUR 0.32, nationwide, 0% green), Energie AG OÖ (EUR 0.32, Upper Austria), and Linz AG (EUR 0.32, Linz). Most are regional default Grundversorger that you are auto-assigned to as a new arrival until you actively switch.
Most expensive default: EUR 0.33/kWh
Wien Energie Optima Entspannt at EUR 0.33/kWh and EUR 6.50 base. 100% renewable, but the dearest of the regional defaults. A 2500 kWh Vienna household pays roughly EUR 75/year more on the energy component than they would on VERBUND StromKlassik.
Dynamic tier: EUR 0.18 to 0.45/kWh variable
aWATTar HOURLY tracks the EPEX spot market. EUR 0.18/kWh during sunny midday and quiet overnight windows, spikes to EUR 0.40 to 0.45/kWh during winter morning and evening peaks. Cheapest overall for households with PV, EV charging, or heat pumps that can shift load. Requires a smart meter (intelligenter Messgerät, IME).
Should You Pick a Fixed Tariff or a Dynamic Spot-Linked Tariff?
For most Austrian households, a fixed tariff with VERBUND StromKlassik (EUR 0.30/kWh, EUR 6.99 base) is the simplest cheapest answer: nationwide availability, 100% hydropower, a 12-month price guarantee, and no need for active management. It beats every regional default on EUR/kWh except Energie Graz (which only serves Graz).
For tech-savvy households with a smart meter and flexible load (rooftop PV, EV that can shift charging to overnight, heat pump, electric water heating with timer, large freezer), aWATTar HOURLY is the cheapest pathway. The hourly EPEX-linked rate can drop to EUR 0.18/kWh during sunny midday hours or quiet overnight windows, but spikes to EUR 0.40 to 0.45/kWh during winter morning and evening peaks. The savings only materialise if you actively shift consumption.
The price-based decision rule: pick VERBUND if you want a single fixed answer at EUR 0.30/kWh, pick aWATTar if you have PV, an EV, or a heat pump and can pull most of your draw out of the EUR 0.40+ winter peaks.
How Can You Pick the Cheapest Provider for Your Household?
Cheapest fixed nationwide
VERBUND StromKlassik (EUR 0.30/kWh, EUR 6.99 base, 100% hydro). Lowest EUR/kWh on the nationwide market, with a 12-month price guarantee. The default recommendation for any Austrian household that does not have PV, an EV, or a heat pump.
If you live in a Vienna apartment
Switch from Wien Energie (EUR 0.33/kWh, EUR 6.50 base) to VERBUND StromKlassik (EUR 0.30/kWh, EUR 6.99 base). Same 100% renewable claim, lower per-kWh rate. A typical 2500 kWh Vienna apartment saves roughly EUR 75 per year on the energy component alone, even after the slightly higher base fee.
If you live in rural Tyrol
Stay with TIWAG TIROLstrom (EUR 0.31/kWh, EUR 5.50 base, 100% hydro) or switch to VERBUND StromKlassik (EUR 0.30/kWh, EUR 6.99 base). Both are 100% hydropower; VERBUND is slightly cheaper per kWh but TIWAG has the lower base fee. For low-consumption households (under roughly 1500 kWh/year), TIWAG actually wins on total annual cost because the base fee dominates.
If you live in Graz
Energie Graz Naturstrom (EUR 0.30/kWh, EUR 5.50 base, 100% renewable) is hard to beat for a Graz household. Same EUR/kWh as VERBUND, EUR 1.49 lower base fee, which means lower total cost for every consumption profile typical of a Graz apartment.
Smart-meter household with PV, EV, or heat pump
Switch to aWATTar HOURLY (EUR 0.18 to 0.45/kWh variable, EUR 5.40 base). The whole point of dynamic pricing is to capture cheap midday solar hours and overnight wind hours. Set EV charging to off-peak windows automatically; run heat-pump preheating into low-price hours; export PV at the morning and evening peaks. Confirm your meter is a smart meter (intelligenter Messgerät, IME) before signing up.
Expat new arrival in Austria
Default for ten minutes, then switch. You will be auto-assigned to the regional Grundversorger when you set up the contract (Wien Energie, EVN, Salzburg AG, etc.) at EUR 0.31 to 0.33/kWh. After your first bill arrives, sign up online with VERBUND StromKlassik (EUR 0.30/kWh). The switch is free, takes around three weeks, and there is no service interruption. You will need your meter point ID (Zählpunktnummer) from your first bill.
Small business or shop
Most Austrian providers offer dedicated business tariffs (Gewerbestrom) with slightly different price points and contract lengths. VERBUND and OMV are the two nationwide options most often quoted for SMB. For shops with high daytime consumption and a smart meter, aWATTar can be the cheapest if midday solar drops the spot price below EUR 0.20/kWh on most operating days. Get an offer from at least three providers via durchblicker.at and the official E-Control Tarifkalkulator before signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest electricity tariff in Austria in 2026?
Among nationwide fixed tariffs, VERBUND StromKlassik is the cheapest at EUR 0.30/kWh with a EUR 6.99 monthly base fee, 100% hydropower, and a 12-month price guarantee. Energie Graz Naturstrom matches the same EUR 0.30/kWh and undercuts on base fee at EUR 5.50, but is only available to Graz residents. For households with a smart meter and flexible load, aWATTar HOURLY can drop to EUR 0.18/kWh during off-peak hours, making it the cheapest option overall when consumption can be shifted into low-price windows.
How much does electricity cost per kWh in Austria right now?
The energy component (the part you shop on) ranges from EUR 0.30/kWh at the cheapest fixed tariffs (VERBUND, Energie Graz) to EUR 0.33/kWh at the most expensive default (Wien Energie). Most regional defaults sit in the EUR 0.31 to 0.32/kWh band. Once you add monthly base fees of EUR 5.40 to 6.99, network fees (Netzgebühren) set by E-Control, 20% Umsatzsteuer, the Elektrizitätsabgabe, and the Ökostromförderung surcharge, the typical Austrian residential all-in price lands around EUR 0.27 to 0.34/kWh depending on region and consumption.
Is dynamic pricing (aWATTar) cheaper than a fixed tariff?
Only if you can shift consumption. aWATTar HOURLY tracks the EPEX spot market and can be EUR 0.18/kWh during sunny midday hours or quiet overnight windows, but spikes to EUR 0.40 to 0.45/kWh during winter morning and evening peaks. Households with rooftop PV, an EV that charges overnight, a heat pump, or large flexible loads typically beat the EUR 0.30/kWh fixed VERBUND tariff. Households with rigid consumption pinned to weekday morning and evening peaks generally pay more than a fixed tariff. A smart meter (intelligenter Messgerät, IME) is required.
How does the Elektrizitätsabgabe drop on Jan 1 2026 affect my bill?
From January 1 2026, the federal Elektrizitätsabgabe drops from 1.5 cents per kWh to 0.1 cents per kWh, a 1.4 cent per kWh reduction. For an average Austrian household consuming 3500 kWh per year, that is EUR 49 in annual savings before VAT, or roughly EUR 59 including the 20% VAT applied on top. The change is automatic, applies to every supplier, and shows up as a lower line item on the federal-tax portion of your bill. It does not require switching tariffs.
Can I get 100% green electricity at the same price as standard?
Yes. The cheapest fixed tariff in this comparison, VERBUND StromKlassik at EUR 0.30/kWh, is 100% certified hydropower. Energie Graz Naturstrom (EUR 0.30/kWh), KELAG, Salzburg AG Naturstrom, TIWAG TIROLstrom, Linz AG Linz Strom, Wien Energie Optima Entspannt, and aWATTar HOURLY are also 100% renewable on their default tariff. Going green is not a price premium in Austria, only OMV StromGo (0% renewable) and EVN.energy (60%) ship with a non-fully-renewable default mix.
Source: provider public price sheets and online sign-up flows (verbund.com, wienenergie.at, evn.at, omv.at, energie-graz.at, kelag.at, awattar.at, linzag.at, salzburg-ag.at, tiwag.at, energieag.at), verified May 2026. Tariff and base-fee data are indicative for the standard residential electricity product. Network fees, taxes, and the renewables surcharge add separately. For a curated Top-7 ranking with affiliate CTAs, see our Best Electricity Providers in Austria guide.
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