How to set up gas, water, electricity and internet in Austria

How do you set up electricity, gas, water or internet in Austria? Learn about the best providers, costs in different cities, and how to arrange them yourself.

Ivandzhelin

5 minute read

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27 Oct 2023

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Renting

Is your move to Austria making you wonder how to set up your utilities? Well, worry no more. We'll guide you through the essentials of setting up your electricity, gas, water, and internet in Austria, including the best providers and the average costs across Austria's 4 biggest cities.

Most of the time, you’ll find properties with utilities included. This means that your monthly rent covers the base rent for your place and the costs for electricity, gas and water. Having the utilities included is a convenient way of renting, especially for foreigners, as you won’t have to find the right providers and set them up yourself.

When you sign your rental contract, you’ll agree to a fixed monthly cost of your utilities. At the end of the year, your usage is re-calculated by the providers, who determine if you’ve gone above or below the usage (or maintained the amount). Depending on the result, you might get your money back or have to pay the difference.

Make sure you know your rights as a tenant in Austria and read your rental contract carefully to see which utilities are included. For example, your internet might not be included in the contract, so you’ll have to set it up yourself.

But sometimes, your new home will come either with utilities partly included or excluded. For example, it's common in Austria to have your water and waste collection costs covered by the landlord and the electricity and gas covered by the tenant. If that is the case, you need to know how to set up your own utilities, what to look out for, and which providers are recommended.

Don’t forget to take care of your Austrian bank account before you start, as otherwise, it’ll be difficult to set the utilities up.

When it comes to electricity providers in Austria, you can choose between a regional (municipal) or private supplier.

• Regional providers are established electricity companies whose scope of operations is focused on the area they serve.
• Your regional provider is determined depending on which Austrian state you live in, and their tariffs are regulated to ensure accessible energy for everyone.

Here’s the electricity price in Austria across 4 cities, based on an annual household consumption of 3,500 kWh costs:

Opting for a private Austrian electricity provider gives you more flexibility. As these companies are often nationwide providers, their market competition is larger. This means that you can get better deals and discount bonuses on your electricity in Austria. Some of the bigger electricity private providers in Austria are Verbund, Schaulstrom, aWATTar, and Energie Steiermark.

Regardless of your choice, it's good to know that throughout 2023 and until June 30, 2024, the Austrian government has put a price cap on electricity costs for households. Due to the continuously rising costs for electricity, in Austria, households using less than 2,900 kW/h (average household consumption) of power will pay €0.10 per kW/h.

What documents do you need to set up electricity in Austria? Once you’ve chosen your provider, signing up with them is pretty straightforward. You can sign up either in person at their office, over the phone, or on their website. You need the following documents to do so:

• Proof of identity (passport, residence permit, or ID)
• Proof of address (e.g. Austrian registration certificate, rental contract)
• Your Austrian bank account details
• Smart meter ID (if applicable)
• Meter point number (Zählpunktnummer)
• The meter point number is a 33-digit number issued by the local energy provider, which is assigned to each property. You can find it on the meter itself, and you need it in order for the electricity supplier to connect your meter to their network.

If your new home is part of a natural gas network, this means that your heating and oven are powered by gas. Many of the electricity providers are also natural gas providers. You can get electricity and gas from the same provider to get lower prices.

Here’s an overview of the natural gas price in Austria, based on a yearly consumption of 15,000 kWh of gas:

Contrary to electricity and gas, you can’t choose your water supplier in Austria. Each province has one provider which is responsible for maintaining the tap water in the region. And since the water supply comes from alpine springs and natural aquifers, drinking from the tap isn’t an issue.

The water providers in Austria and their costs per cubic meter are:

Whether you're working from home or want to stream your favourite series, you'll need an internet connection. More often than not, your rental contract won't cover your internet, so you'll need to find the best provider for you.

With an average download speed of 76.64 Mbps, Austria's internet network is fast and reaches even the country's rural areas.

Austrian internet providers

The country offers a plethora of internet providers to choose from, but it's always best to do your research before picking one. A good thing to remember when choosing them is the internet speed you're looking for. This will give you a benchmark to compare their prices. Generally, households need broadband internet with speeds between 100 and 200 Mbps.

Here are some of the bigger internet providers in Austria and their monthly costs for 100 Mbps:

*Increases to €32 after 12 months.

They offer a range of plans you can choose from depending on what speed you need. You can even get a combination package for your Austrian SIM card plan and internet to get a lower price__. Once you've chosen your internet provider in Austria, you only need to go to their office or website and set up your contract.

ORF-Gebühren

Similarly to the German GEZ, Austria has a fixed broadcasting fee which covers TV and radio (ORF-Gebühren). It’s a mandatory state tax that every household in Austria has to pay regardless of whether they own a TV or radio. Between 2024 and 2026, this fee amounts to roughly €15.30 monthly.

Building fees

Some buildings have a monthly fee, which covers costs for maintenance of the building, membership fees, and emergency costs in case something in the common areas breaks.

Whether you're renting a long-term or a short-term apartment, knowing how to navigate the process of setting up your Austrian internet, electricity, gas, and water services is essential. We hope this guide has provided you with valuable information on the options available, the costs involved, and the differences between public and private providers.

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