Overview
Energy Communities
Explore how energy communities operate, including their distribution, sale, consumption, and marketing, and see the benefits they offer across Austria.
What are energy communities?
An energy community enables you to generate, use, store, or sell energy collectively beyond individual property lines, often at a shared price.​
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Participants in energy communities can range from a small group to thousands, collaborating to make the most of their energy resources. In Austria, there are several types of energy communities, with more details available here.
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You can either join an existing community or start one of your own.
Joining an energy community
Want to know where your electricity comes from, benefit from fair prices, and contribute to the energy transition? Or are you interested in selling and sharing your self-produced electricity at fair rates? Joining an energy community is the right choice for you!
Here’s what you need to know:
Why?
Joining an energy community makes you independent, offers fair and stable electricity prices, and helps support local value creation alongside others.
Wer?
Individuals, municipalities und companies can join energy communities. Large companies can become part of citizen energy communities. Learn more about the different types of energy communities here.
What do I need?
Smart Meter:
To join an energy community, you'll need a smart meter. If you don’t have one yet, you can request a replacement from your network operator. You should receive a smart meter within 2 months.
Meter Point Number:
You need to know your meter point number, which is listed on your electricity bill. In Austria, it starts with the prefix AT, followed by 31 digits. Note: The meter point number is not the same as the meter number!
What else should I know?
Better Safe than Sorry:
Your electricity contract with your energy supplier remains in place, ensuring your power stays on even if the energy community occasionally lacks enough electricity for everyone.
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Costs:
In addition to the cost of electricity, there may be additional fees in an energy community, such as membership fees, joining fees, or deposits. These costs are set by the energy community itself.
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Billing: The energy community decides on the billing interval. You'll receive the energy community’s bill in addition to your regular electricity bill.
How?
Want to join an energy community? Here’s how:
1. Register on our platform, efy.
2. Search for a suitable energy community.
3. Review the conditions, request to join, and contact the energy community.
For a detailed guide on joining an energy community, click here.
Starting an energy communties
Want to get involved and help drive the energy transition? Interested in knowing where your electricity comes from, benefiting from fair prices, or selling and sharing your self-produced energy at fair rates? Start your own energy community!
Here’s what you need to know:
Why?
Founding an energy community makes you an active player in the energy transition. You gain independence, enjoy fair and stable electricity prices, and, together with others, support local value creation.
Who?
Individuals, municipalities & local authorities and businesses can establish energy communities. Large companies can be part of citizen energy communities, but cannot control them. Learn more about the different types of energy communities here.
What do I need?
Legal form:
To establish an energy community, you'll typically need to choose a legal form, such as an association (Verein) or a cooperative (Genossenschaft). The exception is for collective generation facilities (GEA) which do not require a specific legal form.
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Together, Not Alone:
You need at least 2 people (either individuals or legal entities) to establish the legal framework and operate an energy community.
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Contracts & Agreements
Before you can share electricity within the energy community, you'll need to finalize contracts with the network operators. Don’t worry—we’ll assist you through the process.
What else should I know?
Together:
Electricity can only be traded within the community. Members must be part of the association, cooperative, or GmbH.
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Better Safe than Sorry:
Your electricity contract with your energy supplier remains in place, ensuring your power stays on even if the energy community occasionally lacks enough electricity for everyone.
Are you interested or do you have any questions?
energyfamily GmbH
Eggersdorfer Straße 10, 3300 Amstetten
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+â€43 681 84136920‬