Heating and electricity, energy savings

To make moving into your new home in Luxembourg as smooth as possible, make sure you have the right electricity and gas supply. The previous tenant or owner is unlikely to have had the access cut off. At its simplest, all you have to do is take over the contracts. You can also opt for another supplier. We explain it all here.

In addition, we give you a number of important tips and pointers for reducing your energy consumption and your bills.

Would you like to generate your own green energy? We’d like to remind you about photovoltaic installation bonuses.

Subscription and connection to the electricity network

Choice of electricity supplier

Price differences between electricity suppliers can be significant. As with gas, you’ll want to compare offers to save money on your electricity bill.

Suppliers offer different types of electricity, depending on the energy source used. Indeed, Luxembourg is increasingly favoring energy sources with a more carbon-neutral impact.

For multi-family homes, the building association or your landlord manages the electricity supply and service provider. You won’t necessarily be able to choose the service provider. Your consumption will either be deducted from your building’s service charges, or metered directly by a meter installed in your home. Ask about it when you visit a home.

If you live in an individual dwelling, you are free to choose your service provider for your electricity supply. You can keep the same subscription as your predecessor for greater simplicity when you move into your new home.

Once installed, however, we recommend that you compare electricity offers and possibly switch to a cheaper provider.

Compare electricity costs according to your consumption

On the ilr.lu website, the Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation answers all your questions about your electricity subscription. You can also compare offers from different electricity suppliers to choose the one that suits you best.

With the Calculix price comparator, you can simulate electricity consumption according to your household composition and the surface area of your home.

Gas subscription and connection

Find your gas supplier

There are few gas suppliers in Luxembourg. With little competition, prices soar. There are very large differences between the different suppliers. So it may be worthwhile to compare offers and switch to a cheaper provider if you see significant differences.

If you move into a new apartment building, the management company and/or the landlord will be responsible for your energy supply. You will be billed for the costs associated with your use on your monthly statement of charges. Find out about it beforehand when you first visit your apartment and make sure you do so when you sign your lease.

If you live in an individual dwelling, you have the option of freely choose your gas supplier. However, for easy, trouble-free installation, simply use the same supplier as your predecessor.

For an easy connection, check with previous owners or tenants. This will enable you to take over the service providers who already supply the service.

Compare rates and change gas supplier

If you want to change your gas supplier, check with your local authority to find out which gas suppliers operate in your area. Switching is easy, since the new provider takes care of the formalities involved in taking over the service from the old supplier. To do this, you give him a mandate to intervene when you sign the new contract. However, beware of the conditions and deadlines for cancellation.

The Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation also answers all your questions about the gas supply on ilr.lu.In particular, you’ll find a gas price comparator.

Use the Calculix price comparison tool to choose the best offer for electricity or gas supply based on your postal code and the number of people in your household.

When comparing prices, be sure to consider all the details of the contract, not just the cost of energy. Many hidden costs can add to the final bill.

You will be able to choose the best provider and download directly the useful documents to complete for change of provider.

You haven’t found your home yet? Click here for more information.

Other types of home heating

Oil heating

In Luxembourg, some homes are still equipped with oil-fired boilers. This is currently more economical than electricity or gas, given soaring energy costs.
As with other types of heating, you need to have your oil-fired boiler serviced regularly.
The price of fuel oil, as well as the price of energy, is set at the national level by the Ministry of Economy.
There are many suppliers of heating oil. Their contact information is easily accessible on the internet.

Other types of heating

Some homes are heated partly or totally by wood. In view of soaring energy prices, wood remains one of the most economical ways to heat your home. What’s more, wood is totally natural and non-polluting, making it an eco-responsible fuel.

Communes regularly offer their citizens the chance to buy firewood. If you have a wood-fired central heating system or wood-burning stove, please contact your local authority.

Maintenance of boilers and heating systems

Heating systems are regulated and must be inspected regularly by a professional.
These inspections must be performed every two years for solid and liquid fuel installations, and every four years for gas installations. However, it is advisable to check your system every year to ensure its safety, performance and longevity.
Heating installers with a controller’s certificate are authorized to perform periodic inspections. The Chambre des Métiers has a list of authorized service providers.

Connecting your home’s water supply

Save energy

At a time of soaring energy prices, and in order to save our natural resources, we all need to behave responsibly when it comes to using our energies. To reduce your gas or electricity bills, here are a few energy-saving tips.

Decrease the overall temperature of homes

• Reducing the temperature of our homes by 1 or 2 degrees allows us to reduce our energy consumption and make significant savings. 1 degree less means 7% savings on your heating bill.
  Adjust the overall temperature of your home according to the hours of presence or absence. Lower the temperature globally during the night and raise it 30 minutes before you wake up.
• Equip your radiators with individual thermostats and vary the temperature of the rooms in your home according to their purpose.
  The temperature in a bedroom should not exceed 19 degrees. Not only will you sleep much better, but you will also save a lot of money.
  Are your living rooms located on the south side? They will need less heating when the sun shines.
  Warm up the bathroom when you take a shower or bath.
• Remember to turn off the heat when you air the room. Some heaters are equipped with an “open window” feature that is very useful for saving money.
• Equip your heating system with smart appsthat will manage the temperature in your home for you and save you money.

Insulate housing

The energy class of your home is a valuable indicator of the insulation of your home and its energy performance. The EPC is mandatory in Luxembourg in case of sale or rental of a property and must be renewed every 10 years. Learn more about the energy performance certificate.

In addition, the Luxembourg government mandates specialists in energy performance in private homes to study ways to improve. In addition, financial aid such as the Klima Loan is available to help individuals renovate and improve the energy performance of their homes.

Reduce your electricity bill

Here are some ways to reduce your electricity consumption and save money on your bills

• Remember to turn off the lights when leaving a room.
• Defrost your freezer regularly.
• Remember to cover your pots and pans when heating water or cooking food. They will heat up faster and you will save just as much.
• Use the eco-programs of your household appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer.
• Do not leave unused appliances on standby. Remember to turn off your TV, computers, PS, box,… Also, do not leave phone charging cords plugged in if no device is connected to them. You will easily save 80 euros per year by applying these few measures.
• Lower the water temperature of your water heater to 55 to 60 degrees Celsius. That’s enough.
• Take advantage of the sun to dry your laundry outside whenever possible.

Installation of photovoltaic panels

Would you like to generate your own green energy? It’s possible in Luxembourg. In addition, the Luxembourg government has set a target for green energy consumption of 25% of total consumption by 2030.

To achieve this objective, Luxembourg is encouraging private individuals to install photovoltaic solar panels on their homes. By producing your own energy, you help reduce the negative impact of our energy consumption on the environment.

Government aid for photovoltaic installations

You can choose from 2 options for Klimabonus support:

• From January 1, 2022 to the end of 2025, the French government will finance the installation of your photovoltaic panels up to 20% of the cost of your system. It also guarantees a feed-in tariff capped at 500 euros/kwc.
• As of January 1, 2023, you can opt for financing of up to 62.5% of the cost of your installation. This option is valid for installations invoiced until the end of December 2025.
  What’s more, since the beginning of 2023, the installation of photovoltaic panels has benefited from a super-reduced VAT rate of 3%.

Additional municipal aid

Some communes offer their residents additional support for the installation of solar panels. Ask your local municipality for more information.