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How to obtain and interpret a Fernwärme (district‑heat) tariff sheet and supplier price history from SWM, Vattenfall or Mainova before notarisation
Step‑by‑step: where to download official Preisblätter and historical price notices from SWM, Vattenfall and Mainova; which lines to read (Arbeitspreis, Grundpreis, Messpreis, Preisformel), what legal rules require publication, and what to ask the seller or notary before signing.
Why you must get the official tariff sheet before notarisation
Buying a property in a district‑heat area usually transfers the heating cost risk to the owner. The supplier’s official Preisblatt (price sheet) and any ‘Bekanntgabe zur Änderung der Wärmepreise’ show the exact tariff structure that will apply to the new owner. German suppliers routinely publish these documents as dated PDFs on their websites; for example SWM publishes successive Preisblätter for 01.01.2026, 01.04.2026 and 01.07.2026, and Mainova lists a Preisblatt valid from 01.01.2026. These files are the primary source for the Arbeitspreis (variable, ct/kWh), Grundpreis (fixed, €/kW·year), Messpreise and indexation rules. (See supplier pages in Sources.)
You need the official PDF with its issue date because verbal assurances or an old invoice are not proof of the tariff that applies after change notices take effect. The federal rules that govern information and billing for Fernwärme are the AVBFernwärmeV (general contractual conditions) and the FFVAV (metering and billing rules); the FFVAV requires publication of consumptions and billing rules and explains meter/readout obligations (see legal sources). Without the tariff sheet you cannot reliably model future operating costs or compare fixed‑price options.
Which documents to request (exact names and dates)
Ask the seller or the current account holder for: (1) the supplier name and the customer number; (2) the latest official Preisblatt (PDF) for that network — check the cover line ‘gültig ab’ and demand the most recent version; (3) any ‘Bekanntgabe zur Änderung der Wärmepreise’ (price‑change notice) that the supplier has issued in the last 36 months; (4) the supplier’s ‘Preisformel’, ‘Preisgleitfaktoren’ or indexation sheet; and (5) the last two annual invoices and the most recent meter reading.
Request the same files directly from the supplier’s download/archive page if the seller cannot provide them. For Munich SWM publishes dated Preisblätter and an archive of prior Preisblätter; Mainova publishes a Preisblatt and specific price‑change notices (e.g. documents labelled “gültig ab 01.01.2026”). Vattenfall’s public pages explain tariff structure and the legal obligation to publish price rules; where Vattenfall operates locally you must use the local Vattenfall Wärme tariff page or contact customer service for the city‑specific PDF. (See Sources for the supplier pages.)
How to find the files online (short checklist)
1. Identify the local network operator by address/postcode. 2. Go to the supplier’s ‘Fernwärme / Preise / Downloads’ page (examples in Sources). 3. Download the current Preisblatt PDF and any documents named ‘Informationen zur Preisentwicklung’, ‘Preisgleitfaktoren’ or ‘Bekanntgabe zur Änderung’. 4. Save the PDF file name and the ‘gültig ab’ date — record it in your purchase folder. 5. If no PDF is visible, contact the supplier by email referencing your property address and ask for the ‘gültigen Preisblatt‑PDF’ and prior Preisblätter for the last 3 years.
SWM keeps an archive where you can download Preisblätter with explicit dates (for example PDFs dated 01.01.2026 and 01.07.2026); Mainova lists its Wärme‑Tarife and the relevant price documents; Vattenfall’s site explains tariff elements and points to the legal transparency obligation. Use the supplier PDF as the official source when you discuss heating cost clauses with your notary.
How to read the price sheet: the key lines and calculations
Read these lines in the PDF and note the units and VAT treatment: • Arbeitspreis (often in Cent/kWh): variable cost that multiplies the meter kWh. • Grundpreis or Leistungspreis (€/kW·Jahr): fixed annual fee linked to the contracted/installed capacity. • Messpreis or Zählergebühren (€/year or per read): meter and remote‑read charges. • Preisformel / Preisgleitfaktoren: describes indexation (e. g. Heizölindex, Investitionsgüterindex, EEX) and the exact weighting. • Bekanntgabe zur Änderung: the dated notice that shows when the new prices take effect.
Example: SWM’s published Preisblätter supply Arbeitspreis and Grundpreis lines and a separate „Preisgleitfaktoren“ document that explains which indices move the Arbeitspreis; Mainova publishes a Preisformel and sometimes fixed‑price variants (Mainova refers to a ClassicFix option with a two‑year fix in its press materials). If you see only a non‑dated PDF or a marketing page, insist on the official Preisblatt PDF with ‘gültig ab’ and the supplier’s signature/header.
Red flags and checks before notarisation
Do not notarise until you have: (a) the supplier’s current Preisblatt PDF; (b) copies of any price‑change notices issued in the past 36 months; and (c) written confirmation whether the existing contract includes a fixed‑price clause or a transfer clause that binds the buyer (some fixed offers are supplier‑specific). Red flags: an unsigned or undated price sheet; a price formula that is a simple ‘market price’ reference without defined indices; or a Grundpreis that seems unusually high compared with published local examples (compare with supplier archive or consumer studies).
If the seller cannot or will not provide the documents, instruct the notary to record the missing documents in the contract and to make the price sheet a condition precedent (Auflassungsvorbehalt) or to delay signature. For legal questions about contract wording or allocation of future heating‑cost risk, consult a German lawyer specialising in energy or real‑estate law — do not rely on general market commentary.
Nothing on this page is investment, tax or legal advice. Price bands are indicative asking prices and disagree between sources by design. Verify every figure with a qualified German notary, tax adviser (Steuerberater) or lawyer before committing capital.
