Energy: Help and Tips

Prices for electricity and natural gas customers of Erlanger Stadtwerke (ESTW) will remain stable, likely through the end of 2026. For a family of three with an annual electricity consumption of 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), the total cost for ESTW green electricity with the ok-power seal will therefore remain around 1,087 euros in 2026. This includes:

• approximately 22 percent for regulated grid fees
• about 35 percent for government-mandated levies, surcharges, and taxes, as well as
• about 43 percent for the actual energy cost.

Prices will also remain stable for all natural gas customers of Erlanger Stadtwerke. Overall, developments in the energy markets must be monitored very closely. Due to the long-term procurement strategy, no short-term price increases are expected for ESTW’s electricity or natural gas customers—even in the current crisis situation (Iran). It is still too early to provide an outlook for the year 2027. Should anything change in this regard, Erlanger Stadtwerke will inform all affected customers in a timely manner.

Further information from ESTW

• General information is available on the Erlangen Public Utilities website at www.estw.de
• The current price list is available at www.estw.de/preisblatt
• Useful energy-saving tips can be found at www.estw.de/energiespartipps.

Contact information for Erlanger Stadtwerke’s energy advisors is available online at www.estw.de/ebz.

Tenants

It’s especially worth applying for those whose income isn’t enough to cover their housing costs. This includes, above all,

• retirees
• Residents of retirement or nursing homes
• Families
• Single parents.

The following groups may also be eligible for housing assistance:

• Students
• Apprentices
• People receiving short-time work benefits

Homeowners

Under certain conditions, you can apply for housing assistance as a subsidy for housing you live in yourself:

• Homeowners
• Owners of a condominium
• Homeowners with a part-time agricultural job

Both the city and Erlangen’s municipal utility company offer energy counseling. For low-income households, Erlangen’s municipal utility company also provides “energy-saving assistants.” During an on-site visit, they assess which appliances are “energy hogs” and identify ways to save electricity and water.

Here: ESTW - Energy-Saving Assistants

Here: City of Erlangen - Energy Counseling

The Social Services Division of the Housing Department is here to help you if you’re at risk of losing your rental apartment. A housing emergency can arise quickly, for example, if you fall behind on rent or utility bills. Please don’t wait too long—get in touch as soon as possible.

Here: Contact Information and More Details

If you have become homeless and have nowhere to live, the Housing Department can temporarily place you in emergency shelter.

Here: Contact and more information

If you are at risk of losing your apartment, the City of Erlangen cannot provide legal advice on tenancy law. In such cases, you must contact a lawyer or the consumer advice service if needed. However, people with low incomes generally cannot afford legal advice from a lawyer. Instead, you can receive support through the legal aid program of the Erlangen Local Court.

Erlangen’s municipal utility company offers assistance before gas or electricity service is disconnected. It is important that those affected contact the company in a timely manner—for example, if they have received a payment reminder. In such cases, a payment plan can be arranged or requested. The utility company’s accounts receivable department can be reached by phone at 09131/823 4111 or by email at forderungen@estw.de.

In July 2026, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat passed the new Building Modernization Act (GModG), which includes new regulations. Its goal is to

• align the heating transition more closely with CO₂ targets and
• to grant property owners greater flexibility in choosing their heating systems.

Instead of an immediate 65 percent requirement for renewable energy, the law provides for a gradually increasing requirement for the use of renewable energy sources. For newly installed heating systems, a so-called “bio-step” will take effect starting in 2029. It requires operators of fossil-fuel heating systems to blend in an increasing proportion of renewable fuels. Our Office for Environmental Protection and Energy Issues has compiled all the important information.

Developing an energy utilization plan is the central tool of municipal heating planning. Our main goal is to develop and implement a greenhouse gas-neutral heating supply at the local level. This not only ensures an affordable, sustainable energy supply but also contributes to the city’s climate protection goals. At the same time, our planning takes into account important factors such as cost-effectiveness, security of supply, and environmental protection.

Heat planning is intended to inform residents, businesses, and institutions about the existing and future options for heat supply available in their neighborhood. The municipal heat plan is designed to help them make informed decisions regarding the type of heating system they choose.

Here: Information on the City of Erlangen’s municipal heating plan

Numerous households in Erlangen are currently receiving suspicious direct mail again. Erlangen’s municipal utility company drew attention to this on August 26, 2026.

The letter from DMG Deutsche Messwesen GmbH suggests

• that customers must replace their electricity meters with smart meters—referred to as “Smart Meters” in the letter—and
• that they should act as soon as possible.

According to Stadtwerke, this is not the case. Read more: ESTW - Erlanger Stadtwerke AG - Warning! Suspicious Mail!