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How to pay utility bills in Luxembourg: electricity, gas, water
In this article, we will look at what you have to pay for water, gas and electricity, how to pay your bills and how to choose a supplier.
To pay for water, gas and electricity, you will need an account at your local bank. Utility bills usually go to the providers: in apartment buildings, they are usually selected by the management (gérant du bâtiment); or in a private residence is the task of the landlord.
What do you need to pay for the bills
To pay utility bills, you will need a local bank account only. You can configure your preferred payment method with a mobile banking application: automated monthly payment (domiciliation) or independent payment via bank transfer (virement).
Remember that if you rent an apartment, utilities may be already included in the rent sometimes. This should be noted in the contract. If utilities are not included in the monthly rent payment and there has been a tenant before you, you should reassign the utility payment to your name.
The monthly payment for utilities in Luxembourg includes gas payments, electricity bills, water supply, and garbage disposal.
Electricity
Luxembourg is supplied with electricity primarily by large suppliers.
Suppliers
Among them first of all are the Enovos Group — Enovos, NordEnergie, LEO, Steinergy. There are also fairly large Eida (green energy) and Sudstroum. Most likely, you will pay your electricity bills to one of them, but there are some other suppliers of electricity in Luxembourg too, smaller ones as well.
The provider will check your electricity meter about once a year. They send an e-mail to notify you of the screening, and then a technician comes to your place.
Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation (ILR) is responsible for verifying the suppliers of electricity in Luxembourg. If you want to submit a complaint or point out any flaws in a supplier's performance, contact the ILR.
In addition to the suppliers, there is a company that monitors all the electricity meters — Creos. They are also responsible for gas distribution and pipe maintenance.
Suppliers in Luxembourg licensed by Creos
Enovos Luxembourg S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
Nordenergie S.A.
Domain: electricity
LEO S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
Steinergy S.A.
Domain: electricity
Eida S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
Electris
Domain: electricity
Sudstroum s.à.r.l. et Co s.e.c.s.
Domain: electricity
Meters
Practically all houses and apartments in Luxembourg are equipped with smart meters. This means that there is no need to submit the meter readings manually.
Nevertheless, when you move in, on your first day you might want to write down the meter readings and submit them to Creos and the supplier anyway. That's the insurance of sorts so you only pay for the kWh you've used.
In apartment buildings, you will find a separate room in the basement with all the meters. The indications are collected every month by special service workers. Residents do not need to do anything, they just get utility bills, where everything is already counted. But in a private residence, the owner submits the meter readings themselves.
The final payment depends on the amount of used electricity and tariffication anyway. In addition, renewable «green» and non-renewable energy have different costs.
Bills
The invoice comes once a month or once every two months, depending on the supplier. Most companies specify a preferred method of payment. Most commonly it is an automated payment — domiciliation, or a bank payment — virement.
Voltage
In Luxembourg, the voltage is 220V or 50 Hz. It is the standard electric voltage in Europe. If you have electronics, make sure they can handle 220V.
Also, pay attention to the sockets of your devices — the plug should be two-pin, type C or F (German standard).
In case of an emergency, call Creos at 80029900 for electricity accidents and 80073001 for gas accidents.Helplines are available 24/7. If you smell gas, if an outlet is shorted, or if your lights suddenly go out, give them a call.
Gas
Luxembourg households are all connected to the central gas supply system. However, connecting to the gas pipeline is impossible in some rural areas. Therefore, the residents use gas tanks. Local municipalities are responsible for the gasification of particular buildings. They check whether the premises meet the necessary conditions.
Suppliers
Usually, these are the same companies that supply electricity. A complete list of licensed natural gas suppliers in Luxembourg is published on the Creos website.
Suppliers in Luxembourg licensed by Creos
Enovos Luxembourg S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
Eida S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
Electrabel S.A.
Domain: gas
Eni S.p.A.
Domain: gas
LEO (Luxembourg Energy Office) S.A.
Domain: gas and electricity
ArcelorMittal Energy S.C.A.
Domain: gas
European Energy Pooling BVBA
Domain: gas
GETEC Energie AG
Domain: gas
Hoffmann Frères S.à r.l. et Cie s.e.c.s.
Domain: gas
Klinkenberg Energy Luxembourg S.à r.l.
Domain: gas
RWE Supply & Trading GmbH
Domain: gas
SUDenergie S.A.
Domain: gas
Meters
Similar to electricity ones, households are equipped with smart gas meters. But still, there are considerably fewer households that are already connected to the supply system, unlike electricity.
A smart gas meter measures the gas consumption of each house and automatically transmits the information to the supplier. In case you have a regular gas meter, the readings are collected by special services on a monthly basis.
Bills
Are paid each month. Luxembourg gas bill tarrification is based on three components:
- a fixed monthly fee,
- the price of gas per cubic meter,
- a gas meter rental fee.
Water
Water supply is managed at the local level — that is, decisions are made by the commune and the municipality.
Suppliers
Each commune has its own supplier. You can find out about them at the Service des Eaux in the local authority's office in your municipality.
Normally, suppliers do not come to inspect the meters. It only happens if there is a dispute, for example, if meter readings don't add up.
Meters
The day you move in, you should collect your meter readings and submit them to your local municipality, indicating the date.
Bills
The supplier issues an invoice once a quarter. The bill contains information about water consumption over the entire period of time.
Once a year a final bill will be sent to you as well. It provides information about unaccounted overcharges and overpayments for water and electricity during the year. You will have to pay more in the first case; however, in the second case, you will be reimbursed because you have paid too much.
Connecting to the water line
If your building is yet not plumbed in, you should ask the Water Department to connect it to the water supply system as soon as you move in and register with the commune.
Water safety
Water quality and properties such as purity, softness, and composition are regularly checked by water companies.
You can drink tap water everywhere in the Grand Duchy — it's safe.
However, the indicators (purity, softness, composition) may vary from one municipality to another. If you do not like the water taste or other qualities, the local municipalities suggest installing filtration systems.
Saving energy, gas and water
In Luxembourg the fewer resources consumed, the lower the utility bill.
Water saving guidelines
These rules are repeatedly proclaimed throughout the year, especially during periods of abnormal heat.
In order to save water and money, Luxembourgers are usually recommended to avoid refilling their swimming pools. Sometimes they are even given a partial ban on watering their gardens. However, there are some basic guidelines to help save water:
- take a shower instead of a bath;
- use washing machines and dishwashers only when they are full;
- keep an eye on leaks;
- use special water-saving faucet nozzles.
Ways to reduce gas bills
There are a few simple rules to lower your gas payments in Luxembourg:
- decrease the daytime comfort temperature by 1-2 degrees;
- turn off the heating when ventilating the room;
- lower the temperature at night;
- if possible, insulate your home and improve its energy efficiency rating.
Every residence in Luxembourg has an Energy Performance Certificate, obligatory since 2007. The certificate states the energy class of the house, i.e. the insulation rating of your building. When you rent your place, the landlord has to provide you with an energy efficiency certificate. The document is valid for 10 years and is handed over from owner to owner.
An Energy Performance Certificate is also more commonly known as a residential energy passport. It indicates energy efficiency, insulation, and CO2 emissions on a scale from A to I, where: A is the best-performing score, B is a score for low-energy consumption housing, C is a score for conventional energy-efficient units, and I is the worst-performing energy efficiency.
Ways to reduce water bills
These guidelines for paying less for water are simple and commonly known:
- use eco-programs on washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers,
- if possible, sun-dry laundry without using a dryer;
- select energy-saving light bulbs;
- turn off the lights when you leave the room;
- do not leave computers, televisions, and game consoles on standby;
- use a lid to cook, so pots and pans warm up quicker;
- defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly;
- if possible, use only one light source, and avoid turning on several lamps at once.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to pay for utilities in Luxembourg
You will only need to open an account in a local bank in order to pay your utility bills. You can configure your preferred payment method with a mobile banking application in some of the banks: choose between automated monthly payment (domiciliation) or independent payment via bank transfer (virement).
What to do in case of an emergency with gas, water or electricity in Luxembourg
In case of an emergency, call Creos at 80029900 for electricity and 80073001 for gas. The hotlines are open 24/7. If you smell gas, have a shorted outlet, or have a sudden power outage, do not hesitate to call operators.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Luxembourg
Yes, you and your family can safely drink water from the tap in the Grand Duchy, the quality is controlled. But if you don't like the taste or other qualities of drinking potable water — use filters.
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Source: www.globalpetrolprices.com, web.ilr.lu, smarty.creos.net
We took photos from these sources: Arthur Lambillotte, Unsplash
Authors: Daria
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