Electricity & gas in Liechtenstein: your rights
The rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Liechtenstein, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.
What is going on?
Everything at a glance
The market
As an EEA country, Liechtenstein has let customers choose their electricity supplier since 2005, including foreign suppliers. The national utility LKW runs the grid and meters for everyone, whichever supplier you use. All households are entitled to basic electricity supply (Grundversorgung).
Dispute resolution
Schlichtungsstelle nach Elektrizitätsmarkt- und Gasmarktgesetz (Kommission für Energiemarktaufsicht) · free
First try to reach an agreement with the company; the conciliation body may refuse your complaint if you have not. Then apply in writing to the Energy Market Supervision Commission acting as conciliation body. The procedure is free.
Switching supplier
If you cancel your supply contract within the normal notice period, the grid operator may not charge you or either supplier for the switch. Grid operators must carry out a switch within three weeks, and you may obtain all your consumption data.
Price rises
LKW must announce changes to its price lists early enough for you to cancel within the notice period (30 days, in writing, to the end of the following month). If you do not cancel, the changes count as accepted. The fixed LKWclassic price is adjusted once a year.
Regulated price
Every household has a legal right to basic electricity supply. LKW's fixed-price annual tariff LKWclassic costs 10.70 Rp/kWh (single rate) from 1.1.2026 and 9.90 Rp/kWh from 1.1.2027, plus grid charges. Whether basic-supply prices are regulated was not verified.
Protection against cut-off
If you do not pay despite a reminder, LKW stops grid use two weeks after written notice, unless you show the consequences would be out of proportion and you are likely to pay. Supply is restored quickly once the reason is gone and the costs are paid.
If your supplier goes bust
If you have no valid supply contract (for example because your supplier fails), you are supplied by LKW under 'Ersatzversorgung'. Its conditions are approved by the regulator and published by LKW.
Power cut
For a power cut, call the LKW standby service, available around the clock. If supply is interrupted for more than three consecutive days, or restricted for more than three weeks, LKW reduces the grid charges appropriately.
Cooling-off period
If you signed outside the trader's business premises (e.g. at your door or after being approached in the street), you can withdraw within 14 days. Distance and off-premises contracts are also covered by the Fern- und Auswärtsgeschäfte-Gesetz.
Smart meter
LKW already uses smart meters and is replacing them with a new generation, municipality by municipality, from 2026 to 2031. The swap is free and you are informed in writing beforehand. A right to refuse is not mentioned.
Solar panels
Grid operators must take renewable electricity and pay a market-oriented price. Solar systems of 1–250 kW also get a top-up if the market price is below a minimum of 6–10 Rappen/kWh set by ordinance. Apply to the Energiefachstelle.
Free energy advice
The national Energy Office at the Office of Economic Affairs advises private persons free of charge on efficient energy use and renewables, and handles energy subsidies.
Fixed and dynamic contracts
You can choose your supplier. The national utility LKW offers a fixed-price tariff (LKWclassic, fixed once a year) and, since 1 January 2025, two dynamic tariffs based on exchange prices: LKWflex with monthly and LKWfree with hourly price changes.
- In September 2026 the Landtag adopted, in second reading, an amendment to the Electricity Market Act (EMG) implementing the EU electricity market rules. Its entry into force was not yet confirmed. (landtag.li)
Heating without the gas grid
Natural gas and local and district heating are supplied by the public institution Liechtenstein Wärme. It publishes a map of existing and planned heat network areas and advises on connections.
Grants for heat pumps and insulation
Under the Energy Efficiency Act (EEG) the state funds insulation of existing buildings, Minergie buildings, efficient and ecological heating and hot water systems, solar collectors and renewable electricity. Apply to the Energiefachstelle; many municipalities pay an extra contribution.
- Each measure is funded only once; the same measure can be funded again only after 20 years. (gesetze.li)
- Applications for a heat pump grant are made on paper. Many municipalities add their own contribution to the state grant. (energiebuendel.li)
Charging an electric car at home
Before work starts, an installation notice must be filed with LKW, the grid operator. Charging stations for electric cars need a separate connection request, and wallboxes from 11 kW (16 A, three-phase) must always be notified.
Back-billing and estimated bills
Errors in bills and payments can be corrected within the statutory limitation period of 5 years. If a faulty meter's error can be clearly measured, bills are corrected for that period, but for no more than 5 years.
- LKW reads the meters and bills at regular intervals; it may also send advance bills based on estimated consumption. (lkw.li)
- If you doubt your meter, you can ask for a test by a calibration office. LKW pays if the meter is outside the legal tolerance; otherwise you pay. (lkw.li)
Grid connection
LKW charges the property owner a connection fee (Netzanschlussbeitrag) and a grid cost contribution (Netzkostenbeitrag) based on the costs of an efficiently run grid. The Kommission für Energiemarktaufsicht approves both connection and grid-use prices.
- For a new installation or a change to an existing connection, an installation notice must reach LKW early, before work begins. (lkw.li)