Changes in Electricity Supplier Switching and Move-In/Move-Out Procedures
(Effective June 6, 2025)
To comply with the EU Electricity Market Directive (EU Directive 2019/944), Germany is introducing new regulations for electricity supply changes. These changes aim to make the electricity market more efficient and will impact all consumers who are moving in or out of a residence.
Key Changes
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Applies to all move-ins and move-outs
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No more retroactive registration or deregistration
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Risk of additional costs when moving
24-Hour Supplier Switching (Weekdays Only)
Starting June 6, 2025, technical changes to electricity suppliers must be completed within 24 hours (on working days). Previously, this process could take up to eight working days.
This acceleration requires the Market Location ID (MaLo-ID) - a unique identifier for each electricity consumption point. You can find your MaLo-ID on your most recent electricity bill.
No More Retroactive Changes
While the new process speeds up electricity supplier changes, it also eliminates the possibility of backdated registrations or cancellations. This means:
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Registrations and cancellations can only take effect from the date of notification onward
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Contractual terms, such as notice periods and minimum contract durations, remain unchanged
Risks When Moving House
Failure to inform your electricity supplier in time can lead to double contracts and double charges:
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If the electricity provider is not notified of the move, the contract for the old residence may continue
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Simultaneously, a new contract might be activated for the new home
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Such overlaps cannot be corrected retroactively, leading to unnecessary costs
Our recommendation: Notify your electricity supplier ahead of time of any move to avoid complications and extra fees.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
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Notify early: Inform your electricity supplier as soon as you know your move-in or move-out date. This allows time to determine whether your current contract can be transferred or needs to be terminated.
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Avoid costly default supply: If no new contract is signed for your new home, you will automatically fall into the basic supply tariff, which is often more expensive.
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Report meter readings: Provide the meter readings at both the old and new addresses to your metering point operator. Without actual readings, bills may be estimated, increasing the risk of incorrect charges.
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Document meter readings: Keep a written record or take photos of the meter readings during both move-out and move-in. This helps prevent future disputes.
Source: Verbraucherzentrale Berlin
