Techem bill explained in English: what every part of your heating bill means

Short answer

A Techem bill splits the heating and hot water costs of your building between all flats, and your share is simply two prices multiplied by your values: cost per m² times your floor area, plus cost per unit times your recorded units. The bill first lists the costs your landlord reported, divides them between heating and hot water, and then into basic costs by floor area and consumption costs by recorded consumption. On top of that, it shows the CO₂ cost split and a consumption analysis that compares you with last year and with an average user. The result is then transferred into your landlord's Nebenkostenabrechnung.

Techem is a metering service company (Messdienst). Landlords and property managers hire it to read heat cost allocators, heat and water meters and to prepare the heating cost statement. The company meant here is Techem GmbH, based in Eschborn. Its contract is with your landlord, not with you.

That is why Techem tells residents on its website to contact their property management or landlord with questions about the statement. Techem also runs a tenant portal where, if your landlord has activated it, you can see your consumption for heating and hot water and compare it with earlier months, the previous year and average users.

The order may vary with what your landlord ordered. These building blocks are part of every heating cost statement, including a Techem bill:

The small devices on your radiators are heat cost allocators (Heizkostenverteiler). They do not measure energy in kilowatt-hours. They record units (Einheiten), and each radiator gets a factor (Faktor) that reflects its size and output. A large radiator with a high factor produces more units for the same reading than a small one.

• Units only make sense within your building. You cannot compare them with a friend's flat in another house.
• The cost per unit is the building's consumption costs divided by all units recorded in the building.
• Your consumption costs are your units times the cost per unit.
• If your heating is measured by a heat meter in your flat instead, you see kWh or MWh, and the same logic applies with a price per kWh.

Made-up numbers for an 85 m² flat in a building with 1,200 m² and a 50/50 split:

Allowed is 50 to 70 % by consumption, for heating and for hot water (§§ 7 and 8 HeizkostenV). In certain older buildings heated with oil or gas, 70 % is mandatory for heating.

Is your bill higher although you used fewer units? Then the cost per unit probably went up, because energy got more expensive or the building as a whole used less. Compare units and price per unit with last year separately.

With gas from the grid or district heating (Fernwärme), the bill lists the supplier's invoices. With heating oil or liquid gas, consumption is calculated from the tank:

Check that the delivery dates fall within the billing period and that the same delivery did not already appear in last year's bill. Last year's closing stock must be this year's opening stock. If the price per litre or per kWh jumps sharply, ask to see the invoices.

• Estimated consumption (Schätzung)

  If a device could not be read or was faulty, consumption is estimated, e.g. from earlier periods or comparable rooms (§ 9a HeizkostenV). The estimate must be recognisable in the bill. If more than a quarter of the area is affected, costs are split by area only.

• Device change (Gerätewechsel)

  When allocators or meters are replaced, old and new devices appear with their own readings. Each device may only count for its own time. The sum of your units should not suddenly double compared with last year.

• Calibration expired (Eichfrist überschritten)

  Water and heat meters must be recalibrated or replaced after a fixed period. Measured values may generally only be used from devices used as intended (§ 33 (1) MessEG). According to the BGH, readings from a meter with expired calibration are not worthless, but the landlord must then prove they are correct (17 November 2010, VIII ZR 112/10). Heat cost allocators are not subject to calibration.

Since 2023, the CO₂ costs of heating with fossil fuels are shared between landlord and tenants. The building is placed in one of ten steps by its CO₂ emissions per m² and year. The landlord's share ranges from 0 % for very efficient buildings to 95 % for buildings with 52 kg CO₂ per m² or more (Annex to the CO2KostAufG). A few examples:

The landlord must state your share, the classification and the calculation basis in the heating bill (§ 7 (3) CO2KostAufG). The landlord's share must then be deducted from your costs in the Nebenkostenabrechnung. If this information is missing, you may reduce your heating costs by 3 % (§ 7 (4) CO2KostAufG).

The consumption analysis (Verbrauchsanalyse) compares your consumption with last year, adjusted for the weather, and with an average user. These comparisons are required by § 6a (3) HeizkostenV. A value far above average is not an error by itself, but a reason to check your readings.

Errors usually come from the data the statement is based on, or from the transfer into the Nebenkostenabrechnung. These points apply to every heating bill:

• Same floor areas

  Your area and the total area should match in the Techem bill, the Nebenkostenabrechnung and your rental contract.

• CO₂ credit

  If the Techem bill shows a landlord share, it must be deducted in the Nebenkostenabrechnung.

• Hot water measured?

  A fixed percentage or a formula instead of a heat meter for hot water can mean a 15 % reduction is possible (§ 12 (1) HeizkostenV).

• Cold water not twice

  If Techem also bills cold water and sewage, the landlord may not charge the same costs again as a separate item.

• Reading on the right date

  Readings should belong to the end of the billing period. A reading months later includes consumption from the next year.

• Monthly information

  With remote-readable devices, monthly consumption information is required (§ 6a HeizkostenV). Without it, a 3 % reduction is possible (§ 12 (1) HeizkostenV).

1. 1

   Get every page

   You need the complete Techem bill with cost list and readings, not just the page with your result.

2. 2

   Recalculate

   Cost per m² × your area plus cost per unit × your units. Compare units and prices with last year.

3. 3

   Check your devices

   Device numbers, rooms and factors should match your flat. Look for estimates, device changes and expired calibration.

4. 4

   Compare with the Nebenkostenabrechnung

   Same total, same areas, your share transferred correctly, CO₂ credit deducted.

5. 5

   Ask and object in time

   Ask your landlord in writing for an explanation or the invoices (§ 556 (4) BGB). Object within 12 months after receiving the statement (§ 556 (3) BGB).

• Write to your landlord or property management, with the user number from the bill and the point that does not fit.
• Use fixed reductions where they apply: 15 % if not billed by consumption, 3 % if CO₂ information or monthly information is missing.
• Pay the undisputed part of a back payment and object to the rest in writing.