ᐅ Utility Contracts (Electricity/Internet) for New Construction

Good morning,

I just had a question about how utility contracts are handled when moving into a new build (planned move-in September 2021).

• Electricity: Contract valid until March 31, 2022, since a new contract started "automatically" on April 1, 2020, due to a tariff change. Presumably, the contract can simply continue at the new house, right? From what I understand, early termination of the contract due to moving in (for example, to switch to a cheaper provider) is probably not possible here.
• Cable internet: Contract valid until March 28, 2022. This is a bit more complicated. The plan is not to install telecommunications via cable in the new build (bad experience since it is a shared medium), but rather to rely on the good old DSL with empty conduit for potential fiber optic in the future. How does this work in this case? Does the payment have to continue until March 2022, even though the cable service cannot be used from September 2021, or is it possible to terminate the contract earlier due to the lack of infrastructure?

Thanks in advance!
Best regards

I can only comment on part 2 of your question, as I experienced the same situation.

Fortunately, when moving to an area without service, there is a special right to terminate the contract. You can cancel at the end of the month in which you move, with a notice period of three months. This means you pay for three months (and a bit more) without actually using the service. This is established case law and has been confirmed by recent court rulings.

You need proof of the move, meaning the cancellation will only be accepted once you have officially registered your new address. If you register your move promptly, you might be able to slightly optimize the termination period.

My provider also claimed that I had not returned all the equipment (stores do not accept the equipment) and wanted to charge 80€ for a SIM card (which would likely just be discarded anyway). So, I can only advise documenting the contents of the return package carefully.

Electricity service depends on the provider and the terms outlined in the applicable general terms and conditions (AGB) regarding moving or cancellation.

I had a contract that stated the agreement would automatically end upon moving if I notified the provider on time. Newer terms from the same provider now include a clause stating that the contract cannot be terminated this way and must be transferred instead. You will need to carefully review your specific contract.

However, I am not sure how lawful it is for a new contract to automatically start due to a tariff change. Did you agree to that? Usually, both parties must consent. Otherwise, an electricity provider could simply change tariffs every year, and customers would never be able to cancel, effectively trapping them in the network forever. Muahahaha.