Heating Costs Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung): meters must be remotely readable by 31.12.2026

Since December 2021, newly installed metering devices have had to be remotely readable under the Heating Costs Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung). For older devices, the transitional period ends on 31 December 2026. Property management firms should therefore check now which properties still have devices without radio transmission.

Which devices are affected

Heat cost allocators, heat meters and hot water meters installed up to 1 December 2021 that are not remotely readable must be retrofitted or replaced by 31.12.2026.

Exceptions are cases where this is technically impossible in the individual case, would cause disproportionately high costs or would constitute undue hardship. Such an exception should be documented.

There is more time for the smart meter gateway: remotely readable devices installed up to 1 December 2022 only have to be capable of being connected to it after 31 December 2031.

Monthly consumption information

If remotely readable devices are installed, the building owner must inform users every month how much they consumed in the previous month. This includes a comparison with the previous month, the same month of the previous year and an average user (§ 6a HeizkostenV). This obligation has applied since 1 January 2022.

Right to reduce payments if the deadline is missed

If remote readability or the monthly information is missing, tenants may reduce their share of the heating costs by 3 per cent (§ 12 Abs. 1 HeizkostenV). If billing is not based on consumption at all, the reduction remains 15 per cent. This right to reduce payments does not exist between flat owners and the owners' association.

Next steps for property management firms

It is best to list your stock together with the metering service provider by device type and year of installation. If devices are to be purchased or newly rented, the owners' association (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft) needs a resolution, and this should be prepared in good time. Exceptions are justified in writing and filed in the property file.

For properties that have already been converted, it is worth checking whether the monthly consumption information is actually reaching users.