Heat pump tariff: separate meter, grid control and charges
A heat pump tariff is cheaper because the grid operator may throttle the unit when the local network is stretched. Whether a second meter is worth it depends on how much power you use.
Worked through by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
Is a separate meter worth it?
Saving a year
€474
| Price gap | 11 ct/kWh |
| Worth it from | 0 kWh |
Enter fitting and standing charge of the second meter from your network operator’s quote.
A heat pump tariff (Wärmepumpentarif) is a heating electricity contract priced below household power, because the grid operator may throttle the heat pump as a controllable device under section 14a of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) when the local network risks overload. According to the Federal Network Agency, heat pumps with their own meter paid 27.44 ct per kWh on average on 1 April 2025, and those sharing a meter with the household 31.70 ct. Household power cost 37.97 ct in the first half of 2026 according to Destatis. The gap to a separate meter is 10.53 ct per kWh. A 120 m² class D house in Saxony needs about 3,621 kWh a year for an air-source heat pump and saves €381 against household power with its own meter. Fitting and standing charge of the second meter come off that. If it costs, say, €150 a year, it pays from 1,425 kWh. Since 2024 a separate meter is optional, but it is required for the network charge option with a reduced unit rate.
What makes a heat pump tariff
A heat pump tariff is a heating electricity contract. The Federal Network Agency describes it like this: separate tariffs for heat pumps and storage heaters usually require a controllable device within the meaning of section 14a EnWG. Because the grid operator can interrupt or throttle consumption, network charges are lower, and the concession fee is lower than on ordinary household power. Metering is either through a separate meter for the heat pump, often a two-rate meter with high and low rates, or together with household power through a dual-rate meter.
| Metering | Price per kWh | Gap to household power | Saving at 3,621 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate meter for the heat pump | 27.44 ct | 10.53 ct | €381 |
| Shared meter, heating tariff | 31.70 ct | 6.27 ct | €227 |
| Household power, no heating tariff | 37.97 ct | 0 ct | €0 |
The lower price with a separate meter has a legal reason: heat pump electricity drawn through its own metering point is exempt from the combined heat and power levy and the offshore grid levy under section 22 of the Energy Financing Act. The agency’s figures are averages over many suppliers and predate the network charge cuts of 2026. More on the prices and where they come from under heat pump electricity price.
What section 14a EnWG covers
Section 14a of the Energy Industry Act names heat pumps explicitly as an example of controllable devices, alongside charging points for electric cars that are not open to the public, cooling systems, electricity storage and storage heaters. It allows the Federal Network Agency to set nationwide rules on how grid operators may control such devices and how far the network charge falls in return. Once a smart metering system is installed at the metering point, control runs through the smart meter gateway. According to the monitoring report, the Metering Point Operation Act also makes a smart metering system mandatory for customers with a section 14a agreement.
The agency’s rules have applied since 1 January 2024. New controllable devices above a certain connection capacity must accept dimming: if the local line risks overload, the grid operator may temporarily cut their draw down to a set minimum output. It may not switch them off entirely. In return, it may not keep new heat pumps off the grid on grounds of limited capacity. Heat pumps that went into operation before 2024 without a control agreement remain permanently exempt.
Three options for the network charge
| Option | What it gives | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Module 1 | flat yearly reduction of the network charge | none, granted automatically |
| Module 2 | reduced network charge unit rate for the heat pump | separate meter, cannot be combined |
| Module 3 | time-variable network charges | since April 2025, only with Module 1 |
The amounts differ from one grid operator to the next; yours can tell you the current values for your area. The agency points to Module 2 for heat pumps in particular, because a discount on every kWh weighs more at high consumption than a flat amount. If you use little power, for instance in a well-insulated house, Module 1 is often the simpler choice. You can estimate your own use with heat pump electricity use. Price sheets and contracts are in German; look for „Modul“, „Netzentgelt“ and „steuerbare Verbrauchseinrichtung“.
When the second meter pays
A separate meter costs money: once for the meter space and wiring, and every year for metering and a second standing charge. There are no official averages for these; the amounts are in the electrician’s quote and the metering operator’s price sheet. The saving, on the other hand, follows from consumption: 10.53 ct per kWh against household power.
| Heat pump power a year | Gross saving | after an assumed €150 meter cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 kWh | €316 | €166 |
| 4,500 kWh | €474 | €324 |
| 6,000 kWh | €632 | €482 |
| 9,000 kWh | €948 | €798 |
The meter cost of €150 a year is a worked example, not an official figure. Enter your own amount in the calculator above to see the saving and the usage from which it pays. A ground-source heat pump at the measured performance factor of 4.3 uses less power than an air-source one at 3.4 (Fraunhofer ISE), so its threshold is closer.
What your heat pump power costs
With a separate meter
€1,235
| Shared meter (32 ct) | €1,427 |
| Household power (38 ct) | €1,709 |
Average all-in prices: Federal Network Agency (April 2025), Federal Statistical Office (first half of 2026).
Settle it before installation
Whether to split the meter is best decided while planning the heat pump, as the meter cabinet will be opened anyway. Ask the electrician about space for a second meter, the grid operator about the options and its price sheet, and electricity suppliers about a heating tariff at your address. How the electricity price shifts total heating costs is shown under heating costs compared; purchase and grant are worked out under heat pump cost, running costs with your figures in the heat pump calculator. Household electricity prices come from the Federal Statistical Office.