Best Energy Providers in Austria (2026)
Updated: | Found helpful by 20 others
The cheapest electricity supplier depends on your network area, and switching is free. In the E-Control price monitor of 1 September 2026, VERBUND was the cheapest offer with new-customer discounts in 11 of 13 areas: €994 a year in Vienna for 3,500 kWh, against €1,141 at Wien Energie. Without discounts, Energie AG led 10 areas. A switch takes at most 3 weeks under § 25 ElWG, and without a lock-in you can leave on 2 weeks' notice. Compare your postcode on the E-Control Tarifkalkulator.
Sorting changes the order of the provider cards below.
Our overall pick below is OMV, from 1. OMV.
1. OMV
Largest Energy Company. Austria's largest energy company by revenue with ATX listing, integrated oil-gas-chemicals footprint, and extensive retail fuel network.
Visit OMV- Price
- No residential electricity tariff
- Contract
- Not available to households
- Green energy
- Oil, gas, and chemicals focus
- Area served
- Austria and Central Europe
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Austria's largest energy company by revenue
- ATX-listed with strong capital base and transparency
- Extensive Austrian retail fuel and service station network
Cons
- Not a residential electricity supplier, so not on E-Control
- Household relevance is mainly fuel and natural gas
Best for Customers and partners looking for Austria's largest integrated oil, gas, and chemicals group
2. EVN
Best regional utility in Lower Austria for combined electricity-and-gas with PV and heat pump financing.
Visit EVN- Price
- ~10 ct/kWh net (Optima Garant)
- Contract
- Fixed, 12-month guarantee
- Green energy
- PV solutions offered
- Area served
- Lower Austria
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Electricity and gas from one provider
- Good PV and heat pump financing options
- Solid solvency and long local presence
Cons
- Regional focus, limited outside Lower Austria
- German-only customer service
Best for Lower Austrian residents who want a regional utility with electricity and gas bundled
3. Energie Graz
Best for Graz. Default Graz utility bundling electricity, gas, and district heating with strong local Styrian renewable investment.
Visit Energie Graz- Price
- ~11.2 ct/kWh net (fixed)
- Contract
- Fixed-price tariff
- Green energy
- Local renewable generation
- Area served
- Graz and surroundings
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Default provider for most Graz households
- Bundles electricity, gas, and district heating
- Reliable customer service via local branches
Cons
- Tariffs rarely top the E-Control rankings
- German-only interface and documentation
Best for Graz residents who want a city-owned utility with strong local presence and green tariffs
4. VERBUND
Most Hydropower. Cheapest 100 percent UZ 46-certified Austrian hydropower available nationwide, often beats default regional utilities.
Visit VERBUND- Price (Best)
- 10 ct/kWh net in year 1, then 15 ct
- Contract
- Fixed, 12-month guarantee
- Green energy
- 100% hydropower (UZ 46)
- Area served (Best)
- Nationwide
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Competitive pricing versus default regional utilities
- Austria's largest electricity producer
- Strong sustainability and transparency reporting
Cons
- Gas sold Austria-wide, but priced only in the online calculator
- Customer service predominantly in German
Best for Customers who want 100 percent Austrian hydropower at a competitive price, available nationwide
5. Wien Energie
Default Vienna utility for instant supply on move-in, bundling electricity, gas, and district heating with strong solar and wind investment.
Visit Wien Energie- Price
- ~9.99 ct/kWh net (OPTIMA)
- Contract
- Fixed, 12-month guarantee
- Green energy
- 100% renewable
- Area served
- Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Default provider for most Vienna apartments, easy onboarding
- Bundled electricity, gas, and district heating
- Three Vienna service centres for move-in and final bills
Cons
- Tariffs rarely the absolute cheapest on E-Control
- Default tariff should be re-checked annually
Best for Vienna residents who want one local provider for electricity, gas, and district heating
6. Energie AG Oberösterreich
Leading utility in Upper Austria with competitive Ökostrom tariffs and bundled electricity-and-gas options.
Visit Energie AG- Price
- ~10 ct/kWh net (Feel Good)
- Contract
- Fixed, 12-month guarantee
- Green energy
- Ökostrom tariffs available
- Area served
- Austria-wide; home network Upper Austria
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Leading utility in Upper Austria
- Solid digital customer portal
- Bundled electricity and gas available
Cons
- No dynamic tariff option
- German-only interface and documents
Best for Upper Austrian households who want a regional utility with strong local presence
7. KELAG
Strongest hydropower profile from Carinthian rivers with popular heat pump and PV financing packages.
Visit KELAG- Price
- ~9.90 ct/kWh net (Bonus)
- Contract
- 12-month intro price
- Green energy
- Carinthian hydropower
- Area served
- Carinthia and parts of Styria
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Pros
- Electricity, gas, and district heat bundles
- Popular heat pump and PV financing packages
Cons
- Strom Bonus must be activated in the web portal; existing customers are not moved automatically
- Less competitive on E-Control rankings nationally
- Limited digital self-service features
Best for Carinthian and East Styrian residents who want a regional utility with strong green credentials
Based on market share, price competitiveness, green-energy credentials, and customer service, these are the leading Austrian energy providers in 2026.
Top 5 Electricity Tariffs in Austria at a Glance (2026)
| Tariff (Provider) | Price (ct/kWh) and base fee | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPTIMA Entspannt plus (Wien Energie) | 9.99 net, 12.83 gross; base fee €6.44/month gross | Fixed, 12-month price guarantee, 12-month lock-in (Bindung); offer runs to October 2026 | Vienna default with price security |
| Strom Preisfix Privat (Salzburg AG) | 11.88 gross; base fee €72/year gross | Fixed price to 30 June 2028, no lock-in | Longest price lock |
| V-Strom ÖSTERREICH (VERBUND) | 10.00 net, 12.00 gross in year 1, then 15.00 net; base fee €5.04/month gross (new customers from 24 Sep 2026) | Fixed, 12-month price guarantee | 100 percent Austrian hydropower, nationwide |
| HOURLY (aWATTar) | EPEX Spot AT +1.5 net per kWh; base fee €5.75/month gross | Dynamic (hourly), 2 weeks' notice, smart meter needed | EV and heat-pump owners who shift load |
| Classic S (Pullstrom) | Price shown only in the online calculator | Price guarantee to 31 December 2026, no lock-in, new-customer free days | Switchers who want no lock-in |
Energy prices (Arbeitspreis) in ct/kWh, as published by each supplier in September 2026. Grid fees, levies and taxes come on top. Net = ex-VAT, gross = incl. 20 percent VAT (Wien Energie gross also includes the 7 percent Vienna Gebrauchsabgabe). Verify your postcode on the E-Control Tarifkalkulator.
Five household tariffs cover the main choices in 2026. VERBUND V-Strom ÖSTERREICH charges new customers 10.00 ct/kWh net in the first year, then 15.00 ct, for 100 percent hydropower, since a price change on 24 September 2026. Wien Energie OPTIMA Entspannt plus charges 9.99 ct net with a 12-month lock-in. Salzburg AG Strom Preisfix fixes its price until 30 June 2028 without a lock-in. aWATTar HOURLY passes on the hourly exchange price plus 1.5 ct. Compare the second-year price, not only the discounted first year.
For the full breakdown see how to find the cheapest electricity tariff, the provider reviews above, and what Austrians pay per kWh. For deeper comparisons, read our electricity and gas guide, the provider comparison, and our price research.
How Do You Switch Energy Provider in Austria?
The Austrian electricity and gas markets are fully liberalised, and switching is protected by law. Your supply is never interrupted: the grid operator keeps the power flowing, and only the company that sells you the energy changes. The switch is free. Never sign at the door: the consumer association VKI warned about door-to-door energy sellers in Vienna in 2026. Here is how to do it:
- 1
Find your annual consumption in kWh
Check your most recent annual bill (Jahresabrechnung) from your current supplier. Typical values: a Vienna 1-person apartment uses around 1,500 kWh per year of electricity, a 2-person household 2,500 kWh, and a family of 4 around 4,500 kWh.
- 2
Compare tariffs on the E-Control calculator
The E-Control Tarifkalkulator is the free regulator tool required by § 27 ElWG. Enter your postcode and kWh consumption to see the suppliers ranked by total annual cost. Check the ranking both with and without new-customer discounts, because the discount usually lasts only the first year.
- 3
Sign up online with the new supplier
Sign-up takes around 10 minutes online. You need your postcode, your annual consumption and your meter point ID (Zählpunktnummer): 33 characters starting with AT, printed on your bill, not on the meter itself. The new supplier cancels your old contract and coordinates with the grid operator, so you do nothing else. If you agreed a lock-in, the switch takes effect when it ends.
- 4
Wait up to 3 weeks for activation
Under § 25 ElWG a switch may take at most 3 weeks and costs you nothing. Since 1 April 2026 the technical step itself must finish within 24 hours on any working day. The grid operator runs it in the background, so the power never goes off. You receive a final bill from your old supplier.
- 5
Photograph the meter on switch day
Read the meter (Zählerstand) on the day the new supplier starts, take a dated photo and report it to your grid operator. Estimated readings are the most common billing dispute: more than 25 percent of complaints to the E-Control Schlichtungsstelle in 2025 were about unclear or wrong bills. Check the old supplier's final bill and claim any credit in writing with a deadline.
- 6
Re-compare every 12 months
Most competitive tariffs include a 12-month price guarantee (Preisgarantie), and the second-year price is often higher. Your supplier must remind you at least 4 weeks before a lock-in ends (§ 25 Abs. 5 ElWG). Without a lock-in you can cancel on 2 weeks' notice (§ 24 ElWG).
What Is the Cheapest Electricity Provider in Austria?
| Network area | Cheapest, with new-customer discount | Cheapest, without discount | Local supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna | VERBUND €994.09 | Energie AG €1,022.88 | Wien Energie €1,141.14 |
| Lower Austria | VERBUND €995.58 | Energie AG €1,022.48 | EVN €1,045.24 |
| Upper Austria | VERBUND €896.62 | Energie AG €923.53 | Energie AG €1,017.11 |
| Linz | VERBUND €867.54 | Energie AG €894.45 | LINZ STROM €1,086.25 |
| Styria | VERBUND €997.99 | Energie AG €1,024.89 | Energie Steiermark €1,099.14 |
| Graz | VERBUND €853.89 | Energie AG €880.80 | Energie Graz €966.70 |
| Salzburg | VERBUND €919.68 | Energie AG €946.59 | Salzburg AG €1,167.51 |
| Tyrol | TIWAG €890.91 | TIWAG €890.91 | TIWAG €890.91 |
| Innsbruck | TIWAG €975.00 | TIWAG €975.00 | IKB €983.73 |
| Carinthia | VERBUND €1,035.03 | Energie AG €1,061.94 | KELAG €1,209.18 |
| Klagenfurt | VERBUND €996.27 | Energie AG €1,023.17 | Energie Klagenfurt €1,218.11 |
| Vorarlberg | VERBUND €826.74 | Gutmann €845.79 | illwerke vkw €939.81 |
| Burgenland | VERBUND €968.76 | Energie AG €995.66 | BE Vertrieb €1,141.90 |
Annual cost for 3,500 kWh including grid fees, taxes and levies. Source: E-Control Strompreismonitor, 1 September 2026. Local supplier = its most-used product.
No single supplier is cheapest everywhere, but the pattern in September 2026 was clear. With new-customer discounts, VERBUND was the cheapest offer in 11 of 13 network areas tracked by E-Control. Without discounts, Energie AG was cheapest in 10. In Tyrol, the local TIWAG was already the cheapest, so switching saved €0. The biggest gap was Salzburg: €247.83 a year against Salzburg AG.
Read the two columns together. A discount usually applies to the first year only, so the without-discount column is closer to what you pay from year two. In Vienna the difference between the two cheapest offers was €28.79 a year, while the gap to Wien Energie was €147.05. If you can shift load to cheap hours, a dynamic tariff such as aWATTar HOURLY can undercut both. The E-Control monitor leaves dynamic tariffs out, because their cost depends on when you use power.
Dynamic tariffs reward flexibility
How Much Do Austrians Pay for Electricity and Gas?
| Local supplier | Electricity, 3,500 kWh/year | Gas, 15,000 kWh/year |
|---|---|---|
| Wien Energie | €1,141.14 | €2,250.66 |
| EVN | €1,045.24 | €2,334.87 |
| Energie AG | €1,017.11 | €2,064.98 |
| LINZ STROM / LINZ GAS | €1,086.25 | €2,141.22 |
| Energie Steiermark | €1,099.14 | €1,693.72 |
| Energie Graz | €966.70 | €1,691.62 |
| Salzburg AG | €1,167.51 | €1,790.26 |
| KELAG | €1,209.18 | €1,959.61 |
| Energie Klagenfurt | €1,218.11 | €2,301.07 |
| BE Vertrieb (Burgenland) | €1,141.90 | €1,886.81 |
| illwerke vkw | €939.81 | €1,637.87 |
| TIWAG / TIGAS | €890.91 | €1,573.96 |
| IKB (Innsbruck) | €983.73 | No gas |
All-in annual cost of the most-used product, including grid fees, taxes and levies. Source: E-Control Strom- und Gaspreismonitor, 1 September 2026. The EVN gas figure is projected from the current energy price.
A household using 3,500 kWh of electricity paid between €890.91 (TIWAG) and €1,218.11 (Energie Klagenfurt) a year at its local supplier in September 2026. That is roughly 25 to 35 cents per kWh once grid fees, taxes and base fees are spread over each kWh. Gas at 15,000 kWh cost €1,573.96 (TIGAS) to €2,334.87 (EVN), about 10.5 to 15.6 cents per kWh.
- Grid fees: set by E-Control per network area. You cannot change your grid operator (Netzbetreiber), only your supplier, so this part of the bill stays the same after a switch.
- Consumption: heating type matters most. Gas or electric heating can push bills 3 to 5 times higher than in an apartment with district heating.
- Tariff structure: fixed or dynamic (hourly) pricing. Fixed gives certainty, dynamic rewards flexibility.
- Taxes and levies: the electricity tax is 0.1 ct/kWh for households in 2026, down from 1.5 ct, plus 20 percent VAT. See ourelectricity and gas guide for a line-by-line breakdown of a Vienna bill.
What Rights Do You Have When You Switch Electricity Supplier?
| Law | Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz (ElWG), BGBl. I Nr. 91/2025, in force since 24 December 2025. It replaced the ElWOG 2010, so older guides citing § 76 ElWOG are out of date. |
|---|---|
| Regulator | E-Control, which also runs a Schlichtungsstelle (dispute body) for billing and switching complaints. |
| Neutral tool | The E-Control Tarifkalkulator, free and advertising-free, required by § 27 ElWG. |
| Switching time | At most 3 weeks, free of charge. Since 1 April 2026 the technical switch must take no more than 24 hours (§ 25 ElWG). |
| Cancelling | Households cancel on 2 weeks' notice. With a lock-in, you can leave at the latest at the end of the first contract year. The supplier needs 8 weeks (§ 24 ElWG). |
| Lock-in reminder | The supplier must tell you at least 4 weeks before a lock-in ends (§ 25 Abs. 5 ElWG). |
| Dynamic tariff | With a smart meter you have a right to a dynamic tariff. Suppliers with more than 25,000 metering points must offer one (§ 22 ElWG). |
| Social tariff | Since 1 April 2026, households exempt from the ORF levy get the first 2,900 kWh a year at an energy price of 6 ct/kWh (§ 36 ElWG). |
| Electricity tax 2026 | Elektrizitätsabgabe cut from 1.5 to 0.1 ct/kWh for households for the calendar year 2026 (BGBl. I Nr. 95/2025). |
| Price brake | The Stromkostenzuschuss ended on 31 December 2024. There is no general household price cap in 2026. |
Checked against the consolidated ElWG on RIS on 1 October 2026.
Since 24 December 2025 the Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz (ElWG) sets your rights as an electricity customer. A switch is free, takes at most 3 weeks, and since 1 April 2026 the technical step must finish within 24 hours. You can cancel on 2 weeks' notice unless you agreed a lock-in. Billing and switching disputes can go to the E-Control Schlichtungsstelle.
Two changes matter for 2026 budgets. The Stromkostenzuschuss ended on 31 December 2024, so no general price brake applies any more. Instead, the household electricity tax fell to 0.1 ct/kWh for 2026, and low-income households exempt from the ORF levy can claim the social tariff: 2,900 kWh a year at 6 ct/kWh energy price under § 36 ElWG.
What Do Customers Report About Austrian Energy Suppliers?
Price and service are decoupled in Austria in 2026. Wien Energie sells one of the lowest fixed prices of any regional utility, 9.99 ct/kWh net, yet scores 1.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 269 reviews. EVN, VERBUND and Kelag sit at the same 1.5. MAXENERGY scores 4.5 from 1,534 reviews, and oekostrom AG 3.5 to 3.9. Ratings retrieved 21 September 2026.
The complaints repeat across suppliers: late annual bills, estimated meter readings, and credits held for weeks after a move. The regulator's own figures point the same way. The E-Control Schlichtungsstelle handled 1,037 cases in 2025, settled more than 70 percent of them, and took 49 days on average. Complaint platforms attract unhappy customers, so read the scores as a warning list, not a ranking. The full platform table is on our energy provider review comparison.
What residents report
- − Wien Energie cancellation: A customer had cancelled with effect from 25 June 2026, yet Wien Energie switched the power off on 16 June shortly after 1 a.m. The written reply admitted no fault, and the customer called the service very poor. (selectra.at, June 2026)
- + Wien Energie billing: A long-standing Vienna customer wrote that she is very satisfied with Wien Energie, singling out how transparent the billing is and how the customer service has treated her over the years. (Trustpilot, March 2026)
- − EVN annual bill: An EVN customer in Lower Austria said the annual bill arrives late every year with a new explanation, most recently a system migration, and that the agreed payment plan was then replaced by one large debit. (Trustpilot, December 2025)
- − Kelag meter reading: A Kelag customer in Carinthia found that the bill used a wrong meter reading. Only by checking the figures personally did the customer avoid an unjustified back-payment of more than €1,000. (Trustpilot, August 2024)
- + Switching to MAXENERGY: A customer who moved to MAXENERGY described the switch as very smooth and said every step, from the order to the start of supply, was confirmed by email. (Trustpilot, December 2025)
- − MAXENERGY phone support: Another MAXENERGY customer could not get through by phone, was repeatedly dropped from the queue, and advised others to think twice before signing a contract. (Trustpilot, April 2025)
- + Salzburg AG Preisfix: Residents on r/Salzburg passed around Salzburg AG's new Preisfix tariff, 9.9 ct/kWh net plus a €5 monthly base fee with the price guaranteed to 2028, as the local money-saving tip. (r/Salzburg, June 2026)
Paraphrased from public posts, each dated and linked. A small sample, not a representative survey.
Entity References
Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you compare electricity tariffs in Austria?
Use the E-Control Tarifkalkulator at e-control.at/tarifkalkulator. E-Control is the energy regulator, and § 27 ElWG obliges it to run a free comparison tool for households. Enter your postcode and annual consumption in kWh (the E-Control reference household uses 3,500 kWh a year). It lists the registered suppliers ranked by total annual cost, with and without new-customer discounts. Private portals such as durchblicker.at are commercial comparison sites, not the regulator.
What is Ökostrom?
Ökostrom is electricity from renewable sources: in Austria mostly hydropower, plus wind and solar. Many suppliers sell 100 percent renewable tariffs, for example VERBUND (100 percent Austrian hydropower) and Wien Energie OPTIMA Entspannt plus (100 percent renewable). The Österreichisches Umweltzeichen UZ 46 is the state eco-label for green electricity. Check the Stromkennzeichnung on your bill, which every supplier must print, to see the actual mix.
Is it worth switching energy provider in Austria?
Usually yes. In the E-Control price monitor of 1 September 2026, the cheapest offer for a 3,500 kWh household saved between €0 (Tyrol, where TIWAG is already cheapest) and €247.83 (Salzburg) a year against the local supplier's most-used product. In Vienna the saving was €147.05. For gas at 15,000 kWh the saving reached €477.40 in Klagenfurt. The switch is free under § 25 ElWG and the power never goes off.
How long does switching take?
At most 3 weeks from the moment the grid operator learns of the switch, under § 25 ElWG. Since 1 April 2026 the technical switch itself may take no longer than 24 hours and must be possible on every working day. The new supplier handles the paperwork and cancels your old contract. There is no interruption: your meter keeps running, and you get a final bill from the old supplier.
Is there still an electricity price subsidy in Austria?
Not the old one. The Stromkostenzuschuss (the price brake on the first 2,900 kWh) ended on 31 December 2024. In 2026 two measures apply instead. The electricity tax (Elektrizitätsabgabe) for households fell from 1.5 to 0.1 cent per kWh for the calendar year 2026 (BGBl. I Nr. 95/2025). And since 1 April 2026, households exempt from the ORF levy can claim a social tariff under § 36 ElWG: the first 2,900 kWh a year at an energy price of 6 cent per kWh.
Which electricity provider is cheapest in Vienna?
In the E-Control price monitor of 1 September 2026, VERBUND was the cheapest offer in Vienna including new-customer discounts, at €994.09 a year for 3,500 kWh, including grid fees and taxes. Without discounts, Energie AG was cheapest at €1,022.88. The local supplier, Wien Energie, cost €1,141.14 on its most-used product. Prices change monthly, so check your own postcode on the E-Control Tarifkalkulator.
Will my electricity be cut off when I switch supplier?
No. A switch changes only who sells you the energy. The grid operator (Netzbetreiber) keeps running the wires and the meter, and your meter point ID (Zählpunktnummer) stays the same. If a new supplier fails to start on time, the local default supplier keeps you on Grundversorgung. Disconnections happen for unpaid bills or a contract that ended without a successor, not because of a switch.
Do prepaid electricity tariffs exist in Austria?
No. As of September 2026 no Austrian supplier sells a prepaid or top-up electricity tariff. Every household tariff bills in arrears: you pay a monthly instalment (Teilbetrag) and settle the difference in the annual bill (Jahresabrechnung). The closest to pay-as-you-go are dynamic tariffs such as aWATTar HOURLY, which need a smart meter and can be cancelled on 2 weeks' notice.
How much notice do you need to cancel an electricity contract?
Two weeks. Under § 24 ElWG households can cancel a supply contract on 2 weeks' notice without waiting for a fixed date. If you agreed a lock-in (Bindung), you can leave at the latest at the end of the first contract year. The supplier must give you at least 8 weeks' notice, and must remind you at least 4 weeks before a lock-in ends (§ 25 Abs. 5 ElWG).
Official Sources
- E-Control: Austrian Energy Regulator
- BMK: Federal Ministry for Climate Action and Energy
- Österreichisches Umweltzeichen: UZ 46 Green Electricity Certification
- USP: Elektrizitätsabgabe 2026 (0.1 ct/kWh for households)
- RIS: Elektrizitätswirtschaftsgesetz (ElWG), consolidated text
- E-Control: Strom- und Gaspreismonitor
Related Guides
Electricity and Gas in Austria
How the Austrian energy market works and what a bill looks like
Cost of Living in Austria
Where utilities fit in a typical Austrian household budget
Housing in Austria
How rental contracts handle utilities, heating, and operating costs
Internet in Austria
Bundle fibre and energy with municipal utilities like Linz AG