Cancel a German electricity or gas contract

To cancel a German electricity contract, choose default supply or a tariff with a term: the tool shows when supply ends and writes the letter with your meter number and reason.

Independent site, not a law firm: a standard template, like a book of legal forms, not legal advice.

Tariff
Term and notice

on the contract or first bill

Supply point
Your details
Provider
Place and date

Example: special tariff since February 2025, 12 months — change any figure to see your own result

The contract ends on

14 December 2026

after the minimum term: at most one month from receipt (s. 309 no. 9 BGB)

End of minimum term31 January 2026
Latest receipt for that31 December 2025
Rule setfrom 1 March 2022

Go to the finished document

A standard template, like a book of legal forms: no review of your individual case and no legal advice. What you type stays in your browser.

How the check works and its sources

For German electricity and gas the first question is which contract you have. If you never chose a tariff, you are usually in the local supplier’s default supply (Grundversorgung). Under section 20 StromGVV it can be cancelled on two weeks’ notice, text form is enough, and the supplier may not charge for it; the gas default supply ordinance says the same. A cancellation that arrives on 10 February 2027 ends default supply on 24 February 2027. A special tariff with a term ends at the end of the term if you keep to the agreed notice; for a tariff from 1 February 2025 over twelve months that was 31 January 2026. For contracts from 1 March 2022 the template then counts at most one month’s notice (section 309 no. 9 BGB): a cancellation of 10 February 2027 takes effect on 10 March 2027. When you switch, the new supplier usually cancels for you. The letter prints in German.

Empty fields print as a line to fill in by hand. The document is in German, as the other party expects.

____________________________ ____________________________ __________________

____________________________ ____________________________ __________________

__________________, den 14. November 2026

Kündigung meines Stromliefervertrags

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit kündige ich den oben genannten Vertrag ordentlich und fristgerecht zum 14. Dezember 2026, hilfsweise zum nächstmöglichen Termin.

Betroffen ist die Stromlieferung an meine Anschrift, Zählernummer ________________.

Ich wechsle den Lieferanten. Den Zählerstand zum Vertragsende teile ich Ihnen mit.

Eine erteilte Einzugsermächtigung (SEPA-Lastschriftmandat) widerrufe ich zum Vertragsende.

Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang der Kündigung und das genaue Vertragsende schriftlich oder per E-Mail. Einer Kontaktaufnahme zu Werbezwecken oder zur Rückgewinnung widerspreche ich.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

____________________

Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources

Cancelling a German electricity contract: default supply or tariff

Your bill says either “Grundversorgung” or a tariff name. A special tariff can also be with the local supplier, for example a green or fixed-price tariff. If unsure, ask the supplier before relying on the two weeks.

Worked examples
Notice arrivesDefault supplyTariff from Feb 2025, 12 months, 1 month’s notice
1 December 202515 December 202531 January 2026
15 June 202629 June 202615 July 2026
10 February 202724 February 202710 March 2027

Price rises and the final bill

If the supplier raises prices it must tell you in advance, and you may then cancel without the normal notice, effective from the price change; add a sentence about the price change to the letter. After the end you receive a final bill based on the meter reading, and overpaid instalments are refunded. If you are giving up your flat at the same time, the tenancy notice has its own deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Tap a question to see the answer.

How fast can I leave German default electricity supply?

On two weeks’ notice, to any day (section 20(1) StromGVV). Text form, a letter or an email, is enough, and the supplier must confirm the end date without delay. No fee may be charged for cancelling or switching. Receipt on 10 February 2027 means supply ends on 24 February 2027.

Do I have to cancel myself when switching supplier?

Usually not. When signing with the new supplier you can ask it to cancel the old contract for you; it knows the periods and registers the switch with the grid operator. Cancel yourself if you want to be sure the notice is in time, or if you move out without taking a new contract.

What about moving house?

Moving out does not end supply at the old address automatically. Default supply ends two weeks after notice; for special tariffs many terms provide for cancellation on moving. Note the meter reading at the handover of the flat and send it to the supplier; the template mentions this in the letter so the final bill is right.

Related templates

Cancel mobile contract

Cancel a German mobile or broadband contract: end date under section 56 TKG and a letter to print.

Tenancy notice

Give notice on a German flat as a tenant: end date to the day, third-working-day deadline, letter to print.

Cancel insurance

Cancel German liability, contents, car and other insurance: expiry under section 11 VVG, letter to print.

Sources

Written by

Independent publisher of free German contract and termination templates you fill in in your browser, with a notice-period calculator based on the German Civil Code

Updated on · Editorial policy · Contact

Rules as of 2026, read on