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Electricity & gas · Austria
Checked 2026-09-30

🗓️ Estimated bills and back-billing in Austria: how far back can my supplier charge me?

The short answer

If your meter was not read for a long time, a large catch-up bill can follow. Many countries limit how far back a supplier may charge and set rules for meter readings.

📜 The rules in Austria

Back-billing and estimated bills

Partial payments (Teilbeträge) must be based on your consumption last year and the current energy price. Every bill must state whether the meter was read by the grid operator, by you, remotely, or whether consumption was calculated.

  • Without a smart meter, the grid operator must let you send in your own meter reading every quarter. (ris.bka.gv.at)
  • You get a bill at least once a year, free of charge. Annual bills must be issued no later than six weeks after the consumption data are available. (ris.bka.gv.at)
  • If a bill leads to a back payment, the grid operator and supplier must let you pay in instalments over up to 12 months. (ris.bka.gv.at)
  • Grid operators and suppliers must keep consumption and billing data for three years, so that bills can be checked afterwards. (ris.bka.gv.at)
Official source: ris.bka.gv.at · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Read your meter nowTake a dated photo and send the reading to your supplier. It stops estimates from growing.
  2. Check the period on the billWhich months are charged, and was the reading real or estimated?
  3. Compare with the rulesSee below how far back a supplier may bill in Austria and how often your meter must be read.
  4. Dispute in writingIf the bill goes back further than allowed, write to the supplier, then to the dispute body below.

📇 Who to contact

Schlichtungsstelle der E-ControlSettles disputes with energy companiesWhen the company has not solved your complaint📞 +43 1 24724 444🔗 www.e-control.at/en/schlichtungsstelle
E-Control (Energie-Control Austria)Supervises energy companies and explains your rightsFor information, and to report a company that breaks the rules📞 +43 1 24 7 24-0🔗 www.e-control.at

❓ Questions

Do I have to pay a huge catch-up bill at once?

Ask for a payment plan. Many suppliers must offer one; the rules for Austria are on this page.

Why did I get an estimated bill?

No reading was available. Send a real reading and ask for a corrected bill.

What if the meter was faulty?

Ask the grid operator to test it. Keep the test report for your complaint.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

🧾Wrong or high bill→📣Complaint about a supplier→📟Smart meter→🔄Switching supplier→📈Price increase→

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