For district heating customers of Wien Energie, the new heating period 2026/27 brings several changes. The energy provider grants a 30 percent discount on the working price, yet households must expect higher total costs according to a model calculation.

At the same time, Wien Energie is changing the billing of partial payments. Instead of six bimonthly payments, ten equal monthly partial payments per billing period will be due in the future. The changeover will occur automatically.

This is reported by MeinBezirk Wien, citing information from the energy company.

The background is the increased gas prices in Europe. According to the report, these have risen significantly since the beginning of 2026, which is also associated with the war in Iran.

The price development particularly affects Vienna’s district heating because, according to the available information, it is generated with gas for more than half.

Wien Energie wants to cushion the price increase for customers and therefore grants a 30 percent discount on the working price. For this, the company provides around 70 million euros according to its own information.

However, the discount does not apply flatly to the entire district heating bill. It refers to the consumption-dependent working price.

Wien Energie has calculated the impact based on a model apartment.

For an apartment with 73 square meters of living space and an annual heat consumption of 6000 kilowatt-hours, the total costs increase by about six percent compared to the previous year.

This corresponds to an additional burden of approximately 4.60 euros per month or around 55 euros per year.

The actual bill amount depends, among other things, on consumption and the respective tariff conditions. Therefore, the model calculation cannot be directly applied to every household.

In addition to the price development, Wien Energie is also changing the billing of ongoing installments.

According to the report, six bimonthly installments were usually prescribed. In the future, district heating customers will pay ten equal monthly installments per billing period.

This is intended to distribute costs more evenly and make them easier for households to plan.

The changeover will occur automatically. According to the report, customers do not need to submit their own application for this.

From mid-October 2026, corresponding letters will be sent together with the annual bill for the past heating period.

Important: The new payment method does not automatically mean an additional price increase. It initially changes the distribution of the prescribed amounts.

For households, the change mainly means a different payment rhythm.

Instead of paying a higher partial amount every two months, the prescribed costs will now be distributed over ten monthly payments.

Whether the individual payments will be lower depends on the amount of the new assessment. The actual heating costs will continue to be determined by consumption and the applicable prices.

The annual statement remains important: Only it shows the actual costs incurred and whether the partial payments made result in an additional payment or a credit.

Wien Energie also refers to its previous relief measures in connection with heating costs.

Since 2022, the company has provided relief packages for customers. The report cites an amount of more than 770 million euros for this. However, the exact timing of this total amount is not clearly defined in the current presentation.

Additionally, energy vouchers amounting to 22 million euros were mentioned. Of this, ten million euros are to be used in the coming years.

The support is passed on to people with financial difficulties through social organizations such as Caritas, Red Cross, Volkshilfe, Wiener Hilfswerk, and Licht ins Dunkel.

In the long term, Vienna’s district heating should become less dependent on natural gas.

According to its own statements, Wien Energie is relying on geothermal energy, large heat pumps, and the use of waste heat, among other things.

These technologies are expected to take over a larger part of the heat supply in the future, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

For the current heating season, however, natural gas remains an important component of district heating generation.

District heating customers should pay particular attention to the new annual statement, which according to the report will be sent out from mid-October.

The new partial amounts should be visible in it. It is especially important to consider the future payment rhythm in standing orders or personal household planning.

Those who have difficulty paying heating costs can inquire with Wien Energie about possible support offers.

The specific availability and requirements for energy vouchers must be inquired about at the respective issuing offices.

(Ed.)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article .