Energy Providers Price Research Austria 2026
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A 3,500 kWh household in Austria pays €826.74 to €1,035.03 a year at the cheapest offer in its network area, all-in (E-Control, 1 September 2026). VERBUND was cheapest in 11 of 13 network areas, TIWAG in the other two. Local suppliers range from €890.91 (TIWAG) to €1,218.11 (Energie Klagenfurt). In Vienna, the cheapest offer cost €994.09 against €1,141.14 with Wien Energie. For gas at 15,000 kWh, local suppliers range from €1,573.96 (TIGAS) to €2,334.87 (EVN).
How Much Does Electricity Cost in Austria in 2026?
| Network area | Cheapest supplier | Annual total | Saving vs local supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vorarlberg | VERBUND | €826.74 | €113.07 |
| Graz | VERBUND | €853.89 | €112.81 |
| Linz | VERBUND | €867.54 | €218.71 |
| Tyrol | TIWAG | €890.91 | €0.00 |
| Upper Austria | VERBUND | €896.62 | €120.49 |
| Salzburg | VERBUND | €919.68 | €247.83 |
| Burgenland | VERBUND | €968.76 | €173.14 |
| Innsbruck | TIWAG | €975.00 | €8.73 |
| Vienna | VERBUND | €994.09 | €147.05 |
| Lower Austria | VERBUND | €995.58 | €49.66 |
| Klagenfurt | VERBUND | €996.27 | €221.84 |
| Styria | VERBUND | €997.99 | €101.15 |
| Carinthia | VERBUND | €1,035.03 | €174.15 |
Source: E-Control Strompreismonitor, prices as of 1 September 2026. Annual cost for 3,500 kWh, including new-customer discounts, grid fees, taxes and levies. The saving compares the cheapest offer with the local supplier's most common product. VERBUND raised its new-customer price on 24 September 2026, so verify your postcode on the E-Control Tarifkalkulator.
The cheapest electricity offer in each Austrian network area cost between €826.74 (Vorarlberg) and €1,035.03 (Carinthia) a year for 3,500 kWh on 1 September 2026. These are all-in prices from the regulator E-Control, so they include the grid fee, taxes and levies, not only the supplier's energy price. VERBUND led in 11 areas. TIWAG led in Innsbruck and Tyrol, where switching saved little or nothing.
Cheapest in most areas
VERBUND was the cheapest offer in 11 of 13 network areas on 1 September 2026. Its new-customer price since 24 September 2026 is 12.00 ct/kWh gross in year 1, then 18.00 ct.
Dynamic tariff
aWATTar HOURLY passes on the hourly EPEX Spot AT price plus 1.5 ct/kWh net, with a €5.75 monthly base fee gross. Requires a smart meter.
Longest price lock
Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix fixes 11.88 ct/kWh gross and a €72 annual base fee until 30 June 2028, with no lock-in.
What Actually Counts in Your Electricity Bill?
The E-Control totals above are complete bills. A supplier's advertised ct/kWh price is only one part of them. Your bill is the sum of four pieces:
- Energy price and base fee: the ct/kWh you pay the supplier (Arbeitspreis) plus its fixed base fee (Grundpreis). This is the only component you can shop on.
- Network fees (Netzentgelte): charged by the local grid operator in your region and set by E-Control. Not negotiable and the same whichever supplier you choose.
- Federal taxes: Umsatzsteuer (20% VAT) and the Elektrizitätsabgabe. For 2026 the Elektrizitätsabgabe falls from 1.5 ct/kWh to 0.1 ct/kWh for households (0.82 ct/kWh in general), worth about €49 a year before VAT for a 3,500 kWh household (usp.gv.at).
- Renewables support charges: earmarked levies that fund Austria's renewable expansion. Set by regulation and identical across suppliers. Vienna adds a 7% Gebrauchsabgabe on the energy price.
Total bill = energy + network + taxes + levies. Because the grid fee and levies are fixed by address, the gap between suppliers in one area is the saving column in the table above: from €0 in Tyrol to €247.83 in Salzburg a year on 1 September 2026.
What Is Each Austrian Provider's Price and Tariff?
Each card shows what a household paid its local supplier for a full year on 1 September 2026: 3,500 kWh of electricity and 15,000 kWh of gas, all-in, for the supplier's most common product (E-Control). Electricity ranges from €890.91 to €1,218.11, gas from €1,573.96 to €2,334.87.
TIWAG
Tyrol- Electricity a year
- €890.91
- Gas a year
- €1,573.96 (TIGAS)
Cheapest local supplier for electricity and gas
illwerke vkw
Vorarlberg- Electricity a year
- €939.81
- Gas a year
- €1,637.87
Second-cheapest local supplier
Energie Graz
Graz- Electricity a year
- €966.70
- Gas a year
- €1,691.62
VERBUND was €112.81 cheaper in Graz
IKB
Innsbruck- Electricity a year
- €983.73
- Gas a year
- Not listed
TIWAG was €8.73 cheaper in Innsbruck
Energie AG
Upper Austria- Electricity a year
- €1,017.11
- Gas a year
- €2,064.98
VERBUND was €120.49 cheaper for electricity
EVN
Lower Austria- Electricity a year
- €1,045.24
- Gas a year
- €2,334.87
Most expensive local gas supplier
Linz AG
Linz- Electricity a year
- €1,086.25 (Linz Strom)
- Gas a year
- €2,141.22 (Linz Gas)
VERBUND was €218.71 cheaper for electricity
Energie Steiermark
Styria- Electricity a year
- €1,099.14
- Gas a year
- €1,693.72
Cut its energy prices in October 2026
Wien Energie
Vienna- Electricity a year
- €1,141.14
- Gas a year
- €2,250.66
VERBUND was €147.05 cheaper for electricity
BE Vertrieb
Burgenland- Electricity a year
- €1,141.90
- Gas a year
- €1,886.81
VERBUND was €173.14 cheaper for electricity
Salzburg AG
Salzburg- Electricity a year
- €1,167.51
- Gas a year
- €1,790.26
Largest electricity saving by switching, €247.83
Kelag
Carinthia- Electricity a year
- €1,209.18
- Gas a year
- €1,959.61
VERBUND was €174.15 cheaper for electricity
Energie Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt- Electricity a year
- €1,218.11
- Gas a year
- €2,301.07
Most expensive local electricity supplier
Source: E-Control Strompreismonitor, 1 September 2026, prices including grid fees, taxes and levies. In October 2026 Energie Steiermark and Energie Graz cut their electricity prices (about €75 a year less) and Salzburg AG raised its gas price (about €150 a year more). 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?
The 13 local suppliers in the E-Control monitor fall into three price bands at 3,500 kWh a year, plus dynamic tariffs that follow the exchange price. Use the bands to see how far your supplier is from the cheapest offer in your area.
Cheapest local suppliers: under €950 a year
TIWAG (Tyrol, €890.91) and illwerke vkw (Vorarlberg, €939.81). TIWAG was also the cheapest offer in its own area, so Tyrolean households had nothing to gain by switching on 1 September 2026.
Middle band: €950 to €1,100 a year
Energie Graz (€966.70), IKB (€983.73), Energie AG (€1,017.11), EVN (€1,045.24), Linz AG (€1,086.25) and Energie Steiermark (€1,099.14).
Most expensive local suppliers: over €1,100 a year
Wien Energie (€1,141.14), BE Vertrieb (€1,141.90), Salzburg AG (€1,167.51), Kelag (€1,209.18) and Energie Klagenfurt (€1,218.11). These areas show the largest savings from switching, up to €247.83.
Dynamic tier: exchange price plus a markup
aWATTar HOURLY charges the hourly EPEX Spot AT price plus 1.5 ct/kWh net and a €5.75 monthly base fee gross. The annual cost depends on when you use power, so it has no fixed place in the bands above. Requires a smart meter.
Should You Pick a Fixed Tariff or a Dynamic Spot-Linked Tariff?
| Tariff (provider) | Energy price (ct/kWh) | Base fee | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Preisfix Privat (Salzburg AG) | 9.90 net / 11.88 gross | €72 a year gross | Fixed to 30 June 2028, no lock-in |
| V-Strom ÖSTERREICH (VERBUND) | 10.00 net / 12.00 gross in year 1, then 15.00 net / 18.00 gross | €5.04 a month gross | New-customer price since 24 September 2026 |
| OPTIMA Entspannt plus (Wien Energie) | 9.99 net / 12.83 gross (16.77 gross without discount) | €6.44 a month gross | 12-month price guarantee and 12-month lock-in |
| HOURLY (aWATTar) | EPEX Spot AT + 1.5 net | €5.75 a month gross | Dynamic, hourly price, smart meter needed |
Energy prices as published by each supplier, checked 1 October 2026. Grid fees, levies and taxes come on top. Wien Energie gross includes the 7% Vienna Gebrauchsabgabe.
For most households a fixed tariff is the simpler choice. Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix holds 11.88 ct/kWh gross until 30 June 2028 with no lock-in. VERBUND V-Strom ÖSTERREICH charges 12.00 ct gross in year 1, then 18.00 ct. Wien Energie OPTIMA Entspannt plus charges 12.83 ct gross with a 12-month lock-in. Compare the second-year price, not only the discounted first year.
A dynamic tariff such as aWATTar HOURLY suits households with a smart meter and flexible load: rooftop PV, an EV that charges overnight, or a heat pump. You pay the hourly exchange price plus 1.5 ct/kWh net, so the savings only appear if you move consumption out of the morning and evening peaks. Every customer has a legal right to a dynamic or a fixed-price contract under § 22 ElWG.
Prepaid electricity does not exist in Austria. Every household tariff bills in arrears through monthly instalments and an annual statement. What exists instead are tariffs that need a smart meter: EVN Optima Garant Sonne, aWATTar HOURLY, smartENERGY, VERBUND V-Strom SPOT, TIWAG Spot, oekostrom Öko-Spot+ and Salzburg AG FlexSpot. About 97 percent of meters had been replaced by the end of 2025, according to E-Control monitoring, so most households can take one.
What Does Each Fixed Tariff Cost in Year One and After the Discount?
| Tariff | Price basis | Year 1 | Later |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strom Preisfix Privat (Salzburg AG) (Nationwide) | 9.90 ct net, €72 a year base fee | €487.80 | €487.80 Unchanged to 30 June 2028 |
| Kelag Strom Bonus (Nationwide) | 9.90 ct net, €54 a year base fee | €469.80 | Not published 12-month guarantee, then the price at that time |
| V-Strom ÖSTERREICH (VERBUND) (Nationwide) | 10.00 ct net in year 1, then 15.00 ct; €4.20 a month base fee net (€5.04 gross) | €480.48 | €690.48 Year 2: +€210 |
| Ökostrom Fix 26 (Wels Strom) (eww grid area (Wels)) | 13.30 ct net, 70 free days in year 1 (effective 10.75 ct); €59.52 a year base fee | €511.02 | €618.12 Year 2, price fixed to 30 December 2027 |
| Optima Garant Sonne (EVN) (Netz NÖ area only, smart meter) | 12.60 ct gross, 8.28 ct gross April to September 10:00 to 16:00; €86.40 a year base fee | €527.40 | €497.16 If 20% of use falls in the sun window |
| OPTIMA Entspannt plus (Wien Energie) (Nationwide, Vienna prices) | 12.83 ct gross with 12-month lock-in, 16.77 ct without; €6.44 a month base fee gross (€5.01 net) | €526.33 | €664.23 At today's price without the lock-in discount |
Our calculation from supplier price sheets, prices as of September 2026: energy price × 3,500 kWh plus the base fee, including 20% VAT, excluding grid fees and levies. Wien Energie figures include Vienna's 7% Gebrauchsabgabe, which every supplier in Vienna pays.
The cheapest first year is not the cheapest second year. At 3,500 kWh, VERBUND costs €480.48 for the energy in year 1 and €690.48 in year 2, a jump of €210. Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix costs €487.80 in both years, because its price is fixed to 30 June 2028. Over two years Salzburg AG comes out about €195 cheaper than VERBUND without a switch in between.
Promotions hide in two forms: a lower first-year price (VERBUND) and free days (Wels Strom gives 70, Energie Graz 30). EVN instead rewards timing: shifting a fifth of your use into its summer sun window saves about €30 a year on the energy part. Grid fees and levies come on top of every figure here and do not change with the supplier.
What Small Print Changes the Price of Each Tariff?
| Supplier and tariff | The rule that matters | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wien Energie, OPTIMA Entspannt plus | The discount of about 3.9 ct gross applies only with the 12-month lock-in. SonnenStrom feed-in pay is tied to the supply contract, so switching supplier ends it. Three Vienna service centres handle moves and final bills in person. | wienenergie.at, price sheet October 2026 |
| VERBUND, V-Strom ÖSTERREICH | The first-year discount ends automatically after 12 months, so renegotiate or switch. The new-customer price rose from 9.5 to 10 ct net in September 2026. Power comes from VERBUND's own Austrian hydropower with the UZ 46 label, and there are no switching or dunning fees. | verbund.com; Der Standard, 24 September 2026 |
| EVN, Optima Garant Sonne | Needs a smart meter with the quarter-hour opt-in and is sold only in the Netz NÖ area. EVN puts the saving at about €190 a year against its April 2025 tariff. The Arbeiterkammer warns that heat-pump homes above 3,500 kWh may do better on the old tariff. | evn.at price sheet; ORF, March 2026 |
| Salzburg AG, Strom Preisfix Privat | The longest guarantee on the market, to 30 June 2028, with no lock-in. Existing customers must switch into it actively, and the base fee rises from €2.50 to €5 a month when they do. Low users can pay less on Strom Privat 24, whose base fee is €36 a year gross. | salzburg-ag.at; AK Salzburg FAQ, July 2026 |
| Energie Steiermark, SteirerStrom Fix | The price cut of 1 June 2026 applied automatically, without customer consent, as the ElWG now allows. Fixed-tariff customers also get an energy bonus until 31 May 2027, and the price is guaranteed to 31 March 2027. | e-steiermark.com |
| Energie Graz, Graz Strom Fix | New customers get 30 days of free energy in year 1. A €1 million hardship fund pays up to €800 once, via the Graz social office or Caritas. The basic mix contains 18.19% natural gas; only Graz Naturstrom is 100% renewable. | holding-graz.at, 6 February 2026 |
| Kelag, Strom Bonus | Available since 1 April 2026, but existing customers must activate it themselves in the web portal; nobody is moved automatically. The Arbeiterkammer notes that heat-pump homes above about 3,500 kWh may be better off on the old 9.5 ct tariff. | kelag.at; AK and ORF, 2026 |
| illwerke vkw, vkw Haushalt / Strom Duo | Energy price guaranteed to 31 December 2026; Strom Duo takes 2.4 ct off between 10:00 and 16:00 from April to September. The night-power tariff ended in April 2026, new solar feed-in is market-based only, with a fixed 7 ct offered for 2027. The hotline closes at 16:00 on weekdays. | vkw.de FAQ; illwerkevkw.at, 8 June 2026 |
| Energie AG, Feel Good Energie für alle | 10 ct net since 4 May 2026 for all customers, but you must switch into it in the online portal. Energie AG puts the saving at €76 to €140 a year. An 18 to 28 variant has a reduced base fee. | energieag.at |
| aWATTar, HOURLY | Dynamic pricing since 2013 with an open price API: EPEX Spot AT plus 1.5 ct net and €5.75 a month gross. No lock-in, 2 weeks' notice, no feed-in product. | awattar.at |
| oekostrom AG, Ökostrom Fix / Öko-Spot+ | Öko-Spot+ is the only dynamic tariff with TÜV-certified 100% green power. Solar feed-in pays up to 9 ct/kWh, the top of the market, but the rate changes monthly. | oekostrom.at |
| go green energy, strom / strom future | No lock-in despite a long price guarantee, and €1 a month off the base fee for paperless billing. Feed-in pays only 3.0 ct, against about 6.77 ct from OeMAG in April 2026. Flexible tariffs are suspended. | gogreenenergy.at price sheet, 1 July 2026 |
| MAXENERGY, MAX Strom | Prices change daily; no lock-in and 2 weeks' notice. The consumer association VKI sued over its bonus and price-rise practice in 2018/19 and 2022/23. | maxenergy.at; VKI |
| Unsere Wasserkraft, aqua strom | 17.40 ct net as a promotional price on the June 2026 price sheet, well above the market, with a new-customer bonus doing the selling. | wasserkraft.at price sheet, 1 June 2026 |
Three patterns repeat. Several cheaper tariffs need an active switch: Kelag, Energie AG and Salzburg AG do not move existing customers automatically, while Energie Steiermark passed its June 2026 cut on by itself. Solar feed-in pay ranges from 3.0 ct (go green) to 9 ct (oekostrom AG), and some utilities tie it to the supply contract. And heat-pump homes above 3,500 kWh should check the old tariff before taking a new one.
What Do Fixed Gas Tariffs Cost in 2026?
| Tariff | Energy price per kWh | Base fee | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erdgas Preisfix28 (Salzburg AG) | 6.38 ct net | €2.50 a month | Fixed to 30 April 2028, no lock-in, switch in actively; about 4,000 customers had moved by March 2026. The standard gas tariff is indexed each April and October. |
| OPTIMA Entspannt plus Erdgas (Wien Energie) | 6.84 ct net (8.78 ct gross in Vienna) | €7.00 a month net (€8.99 gross in Vienna) | 12-month price guarantee and lock-in; up from 5.44 ct net on the April 2026 price sheet. |
Supplier price sheets and press releases, prices as of September 2026. Grid fees, natural gas tax and the CO₂ price come on top.
Salzburg AG Erdgas Preisfix28 is the only gas tariff with a two-year guarantee: 6.38 ct/kWh net to 30 April 2028, without a lock-in. Wien Energie raised its fixed gas price from 5.44 to 6.84 ct net between its April and October 2026 price sheets, so fixing early paid off. Gas grid fees rose by 18.2 percent across Austria in 2026, which no supplier change avoids.
Which Tariff Fits Your Situation?
| Your situation | Our pick | Why | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving into a Vienna flat, want a fixed price | Wien Energie OPTIMA Entspannt plus | 9.99 ct net, fixed 12 months, seamless from the default supply | 1.5 of 5 on Trustpilot: cancel in writing and keep the confirmation |
| Anywhere, want year-1 price and hydropower | VERBUND V-Strom ÖSTERREICH | 10 ct net in year 1, UZ 46, 12-month guarantee | 15 ct from year 2, +€210 a year at 3,500 kWh: set a reminder |
| Want two calm years | Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix | 9.9 ct net to 30 June 2028 with no lock-in | €72 a year base fee |
| Leaving Austria within 6 months | Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix or aWATTar HOURLY | 2 weeks' notice, no lock-in | Avoid 12-month lock-ins; photograph the final meter reading |
| Exempt from the ORF levy | Social tariff, with any supplier | 6 ct net for the first 2,900 kWh, base fee included | Not automatic without your meter point ID at OBS; students excluded |
| Student or low user | Salzburg AG Strom Privat 24 or the Energie AG 18 to 28 variant | Under 2,000 kWh the base fee dominates; Privat 24 charges €36 a year | Students cannot get the social tariff; skip first-year promotions |
| Lower Austria, smart meter, EV | EVN Optima Garant Sonne | 8.28 ct gross from 10:00 to 16:00, April to September | Netz NÖ area only; late annual bills reported |
| Tech household that shifts load | aWATTar HOURLY | EPEX Spot plus 1.5 ct net, €5.75 a month, open API | The 18:00 to 21:00 peak is expensive if unmanaged |
| Solar panels feeding in | oekostrom AG | Feed-in up to 9 ct/kWh and first place for service in ÖGVS 2026 | Rate changes monthly; Wien Energie SonnenStrom ties feed-in to supply |
| Want certified green power | oekostrom AG or VERBUND (both UZ 46) | UZ 46 requires at least 10% from new plants and bans bought-in certificates | A guarantee of origin (HKN) alone is not UZ 46: check the bill |
| Living in Vorarlberg | Compare before leaving illwerke vkw | Second-cheapest local supplier (€939.81); the cheapest offer saved €113.07 | Hotline only until 16:00 on weekdays |
| Gas household hit by an estimated back-payment | Own meter reading, then AK, then E-Control | The Schlichtungsstelle settled over 70% of cases in 49 days on average | Have the AK check the bill before you pay it |
No single tariff wins every household. A Vienna newcomer gains most from a fixed price with seamless start, a short-stay reader from no lock-in, and an ORF-exempt household from the social tariff at 6 ct, whichever supplier it uses. Picks rest on supplier price sheets as of September 2026; check your postcode on the E-Control Tarifkalkulator before signing.
How Can You Pick the Cheapest Provider for Your Household?
Start with the E-Control Tarifkalkulator
Enter your postcode and annual consumption in the regulator's E-Control Tarifkalkulator. It lists every offer for your grid area with the full annual cost, including grid fees and taxes. Prices move monthly: VERBUND raised its new-customer price on 24 September 2026. The calculator is run by the regulator, carries no advertising and earns no commission, and it lists all of the more than 130 licensed suppliers. It was used about 875,000 times in 2024. Commercial portals such as durchblicker, check24, selectra and stromliste are paid by commission, so use them for discovery only.
If you live in Vienna
On 1 September 2026 the cheapest offer cost €994.09 a year for 3,500 kWh, against €1,141.14 with Wien Energie: a saving of €147.05. For gas at 15,000 kWh, the cheapest offer cost €1,885.81 against €2,250.66 with Wien Energie, a saving of €364.85.
If you live in Tyrol
TIWAG was both the local supplier and the cheapest offer at €890.91 a year, and TIGAS the cheapest gas at €1,573.96. Switching saved nothing on 1 September 2026. In Innsbruck, TIWAG undercut IKB by only €8.73.
If you live in Salzburg, Linz or Klagenfurt
These areas had the largest electricity savings: €247.83 in Salzburg, €221.84 in Klagenfurt and €218.71 in Linz a year, against the local supplier. In Salzburg, Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix at 11.88 ct/kWh gross is the local alternative with a price fixed to 30 June 2028.
Smart-meter household with PV, EV, or heat pump
Consider aWATTar HOURLY (EPEX Spot AT + 1.5 ct/kWh net, €5.75 a month gross). Set EV charging and heat-pump preheating to low-price hours. Confirm your meter is a smart meter (intelligentes Messgerät) before signing up.
Expat new arrival in Austria
You usually start with the local supplier. After the first bill, compare offers and switch. The switch is free and takes at most three weeks under § 25 ElWG, and households can cancel with two weeks' notice under § 24 ElWG. You need your meter point ID (Zählpunktnummer) from your first bill.
Small business or shop
Most Austrian suppliers offer business tariffs (Gewerbestrom) with different prices and contract lengths. The E-Control Tarifkalkulator also covers small businesses. For shops with high daytime use and a smart meter, a dynamic tariff such as aWATTar can pay off when midday solar pushes the exchange price down. Get at least three offers before signing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a first-year electricity discount ends in Austria?
The price jumps to the regular rate, and nobody moves you to a cheaper tariff. VERBUND V-Strom ÖSTERREICH goes from 10 to 15 ct/kWh net after 12 months, which is €210 a year more at 3,500 kWh including VAT, by our calculation. Wels Strom Ökostrom Fix 26 goes from an effective 10.75 ct to 13.30 ct net once its 70 free days are used up. Your supplier must remind you at least 4 weeks before a lock-in ends (§ 25 Abs. 5 ElWG), so diarise that date and compare again.
What is the cheapest electricity tariff in Austria in 2026?
VERBUND was the cheapest offer, including new-customer discounts, in 11 of 13 network areas in the E-Control Strompreismonitor of 1 September 2026. TIWAG was cheapest in Innsbruck and Tyrol. In Vienna the cheapest offer cost €994.09 a year for 3,500 kWh, against €1,141.14 with Wien Energie. VERBUND raised its new-customer price on 24 September 2026 to 10.00 ct/kWh net (12.00 ct gross) in year 1, so check the E-Control Tarifkalkulator before you sign.
How much does electricity cost per kWh in Austria right now?
With the local supplier, a 3,500 kWh household paid €890.91 (TIWAG) to €1,218.11 (Energie Klagenfurt) a year as of 1 September 2026, including grid fees, taxes and levies (E-Control). That is about 25 to 35 cents per kWh all-in. The energy price alone is lower: Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix charges 11.88 ct/kWh gross, VERBUND V-Strom ÖSTERREICH 12.00 ct gross in year 1, and Wien Energie OPTIMA Entspannt plus 12.83 ct gross.
Is dynamic pricing (aWATTar) cheaper than a fixed tariff?
Only if you can shift consumption. aWATTar HOURLY charges the hourly EPEX Spot AT exchange price plus 1.5 ct/kWh net, with a base fee of €5.75 a month gross. You need a smart meter. Households with PV, an EV or a heat pump can move load into cheap hours; households with fixed evening use carry the price peaks. § 22 ElWG gives every customer the right to a dynamic or a fixed-price contract.
How does the Elektrizitätsabgabe cut in 2026 affect my bill?
For 2026 the Elektrizitätsabgabe falls from 1.5 ct/kWh to 0.82 ct/kWh in general and to 0.1 ct/kWh for households (Elektrizitätsabgabegesetz, BGBl. 2025, per usp.gv.at). For a 3,500 kWh household the cut of 1.4 ct/kWh is worth about €49 a year before VAT. It applies automatically with every supplier and needs no switch.
How much can you save by switching electricity supplier in Austria?
Switching from the local supplier's most common product to the cheapest offer saved €0 in Tyrol and up to €247.83 in Salzburg a year at 3,500 kWh, including new-customer discounts (E-Control, 1 September 2026). In Vienna the saving was €147.05. For gas at 15,000 kWh, Vienna households saved €364.85 and Klagenfurt households €477.40. The switch is free and takes at most three weeks under § 25 ElWG.
Sources: E-Control Strompreismonitor of 1 September 2026 (e-control.at/preismonitor); supplier price sheets and press releases checked 1 October 2026 (verbund.com, wienenergie.at, salzburg-ag.at, awattar.at); Elektrizitätsabgabe rates from usp.gv.at; Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz (ElWG), BGBl. I Nr. 91/2025, on RIS. For a curated Top-7 ranking with affiliate CTAs, see our Best Electricity Providers in Austria guide.
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