essential terms explained in plain language.
115 terms
Monthly advance payment — fixed monthly amount paid to a utility provider (electricity, gas, water) as an estimate of actual usage. Reconciled annually.
Ihr monatlicher Abschlag beträgt 85 Euro.
Standing charge / base fee — a fixed monthly fee charged by utility providers (electricity, gas, water, internet) regardless of actual consumption.
Annual utility bill — the yearly settlement comparing actual energy consumption against your monthly advance payments. Results in either a refund or an additional payment.
Ihre Jahresabrechnung ergibt eine Nachzahlung von 142 Euro.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) — the standard unit of energy used in German utility bills to measure electricity and gas consumption.
Additional payment — the extra amount owed after the annual energy bill if actual consumption exceeded the advance payments made throughout the year.
Meter reading — the current reading of your electricity, gas, or water meter. You must report it to your provider at the end of the year or when moving. Used to calculate your exact annual bill.