Overall message: meaningful savings are possible with an informed tariff change, but consumer hesitation—especially among older adults—remains, alongside practical pathways to switch.

The same survey states that 41% of Germans remain on Grundversorgung, and 52% say cost is the main factor in tariff choice, underscoring the age-related hesitancy to switch.

Grundversorgung is the default electricity supply; its prices can be significantly higher than those offered by other suppliers.

The analysis argues that millions pay more than necessary by sticking with Grundversorgung, which can be expensive versus alternative providers.

Potential annual savings from switching vary by city and household size, with examples in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, and other cities ranging roughly from €200 to €764 per year.

A YouGov survey commissioned by Wechselpilot finds older customers are more resistant to switching, while younger customers are more open, contributing to estimated annual losses from inertia exceeding €5 billion.

A new study shows German households could save by leaving the default Grundversorgung and shopping for competing electricity tariffs, noting that roughly 41% still buy power from Grundversorgung despite cheaper offers elsewhere.

A government relief plan planned for 2026 could cut net electricity charges by about 17%, though savings will vary by region.

Sources cited include Bundesnetzagentur, Verbraucherzentrale, YouGov/Wechselpilot, and media outlets like hna.de and Ippen.Media, with data framed around October 2025.

The report notes figures through early October 2025, drawing on multiple institutes and survey results.

Industry expert Maxmilian Both of Wechselpilot urges consumers to review contracts and consider switching providers, highlighting that automated switching services can reduce effort and time.

Regional estimates show how a single, two, or four-person household could realize different annual savings when moving from Grundversorgung to a new provider in major cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, and Kassel.

The Grundversorgung is the default supply if no contract is chosen, and its prices are often higher than those of alternative suppliers, making switching advantageous.

Switching options include services like Wechselpilot and other providers; consumers can also manually compare via portals such as Check24 or Verivox, with varying costs, automation levels, terms, and potential sign-up bonuses.