Phone, internet and utilities in Austria: getting connected

Setting up a home in Austria means sorting out a phone plan, internet, electricity and, as an extra many Americans do not expect, a household broadcasting levy. Each comes with rules that differ from the American market. Prepaid SIM cards are not anonymous. Phone contracts have a legal maximum term. Switching electricity suppliers is free and quick. This guide brings these together using information from the telecom regulator RTR, the energy regulator E-Control, the ORF-Beitrags Service and the federal portal oesterreich.gv.at.

Mobile phones

### No anonymous SIM cards

Since January 1, 2019, you cannot activate any phone contract anonymously in Austria, whether prepaid or postpaid. RTR explains that you must identify yourself to the provider before you can use the service. The federal portal lists the usual methods:

• showing an official photo ID in a shop of the mobile operator or a partner shop;
• electronic confirmation of your identity through a bank;
• a video call with a customer adviser of the operator.

Your US passport works for in-shop identification. Note that RTR says the law does not regulate who pays for identification, so providers may charge for it, although most offer free methods. A shop that identifies you on the provider's behalf may also charge.

### Brand versus provider

RTR advises checking who you are actually contracting with, since there is a difference between a brand and the company behind it. Its example is the brand "bob", which belongs to A1 Telekom Austria AG. Discount brands often have no stores of their own; their SIM cards, sold as "starter packages", are available in supermarkets.

### Contract terms

Austrian law sets limits that protect consumers:

1. Maximum minimum term. The minimum term of a phone or internet contract may not exceed 24 months.
2. One-month notice. After the minimum term, consumers can cancel with one month's notice. RTR notes that fixed cancellation dates are not allowed.
3. Early exit costs. If you end a contract before its minimum term, you almost always have to pay the remaining base fees for the rest of the term at once.
4. No general withdrawal right. There is no general right to back out after signing. For contracts concluded by phone or online, a limited withdrawal right applies. If you are unsure whether a product works at your address, RTR suggests agreeing a withdrawal right in advance and keeping proof.

A contract does not need a signature. A verbal agreement on the phone is enough, and you then receive a confirmation letter. Check it against what was agreed.

### The contract summary

Before signing, read the contract summary. RTR recommends checking the minimum term, the main base fees, call charges and annual flat fees, notice periods and promised quality. Do not sign until you understand all of them.

### Switching and keeping your number

When you take your number to a new provider, your old contract ends automatically, legally as if you had cancelled at the moment of the transfer. Any obligations, such as a remaining minimum term, still apply.

For cancellations, almost all contract terms require written form, which in practice means your signature on the letter. RTR provides a sample letter and suggests the wording "I cancel at the next possible date." Keep all confirmations, and if you have not received a cancellation confirmation within two to three weeks, contact the provider.

Home internet

The same contract rules apply to home internet: a minimum term of no more than 24 months, a one-month notice period afterwards, and a contract summary you should read before signing. If you are on a fixed-term residence permit or a fixed-term lease, a shorter contract can save you early exit costs later.

Electricity and gas

### Choosing a supplier

When you move into a new apartment, you can choose your electricity and gas supplier. E-Control runs a tariff calculator that compares all suppliers in Austria, because every supplier is legally required to enter its products into the E-Control database. You need only your postcode and your annual consumption in kilowatt hours. If you have no bill yet, you can enter the number of people in your household for electricity, or your floor space for gas.

### Switching later

E-Control describes switching as free and risk-free, with your supply guaranteed throughout. Key points:

• You must no longer be bound to your current supplier, and such a commitment may last at most one year.
• The new supplier handles the steps and can cancel your old contract with your authorization.
• A switch may take no more than three weeks.
• You should receive a final bill from the old supplier within six weeks.
• Your network operator, which maintains the grid and reads the meter, stays the same, and you keep paying the officially set network tariffs to it.

E-Control suggests reading your meter on the day of the switch and reporting it to the network operator. Its energy hotline is 0800 21 20 20.

The ORF household levy

Americans are often surprised by the ORF-Beitrag, the household contribution that funds the public broadcaster. Since January 1, 2024, it is collected by the ORF-Beitrags Service (OBS). Key rules from the federal portal:

• It is charged per address where at least one adult has their main residence in the Central Register of Residents.
• It applies whether or not you own or use a TV or radio.
• Secondary residences have not been liable since 2024.
• For private persons, it is 15.30 euros a month nationwide. Some provinces add a provincial levy; others charge none.

You do not have to register. OBS explains that your main residence data are sent automatically from the Central Register of Residents, so the liability starts once an adult is registered at the address, and the bill follows.

New registrations since 2024 pay once a year with a payment slip. With a SEPA direct debit, you can split the amount into two or six installments. OBS also warns of fraudulent text messages using its name to request payment details through links; it does not send such messages.

Households with an exemption from the ORF levy can, since April 1, 2026, also receive the social electricity tariff, students excepted.

Plugs and electronics

American plugs do not fit Austrian sockets. Check the input voltage printed on each charger before plugging it in. A set of US to European plug adapters covers chargers, while appliances rated only for US voltage need a voltage converter or replacement.

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Setup order for a new home

1. Register your address, which also triggers the ORF levy.
2. Choose an electricity supplier with the E-Control tariff calculator.
3. Get a prepaid SIM with your passport while you compare contracts.
4. Read the contract summary before any 24-month commitment.
5. Set up SEPA direct debits once you have an Austrian account.

Common questions

Can I buy a prepaid SIM card anonymously in Austria? No. Since January 1, 2019, every prepaid and postpaid contract must be registered with ID, in a shop, through a bank or by video call.

How long can an Austrian phone contract bind me? The minimum term may not exceed 24 months. After that, consumers can cancel with one month's notice.

What is the ORF-Beitrag? A household levy for the public broadcaster, charged per main residence address at 15.30 euros a month, plus a provincial levy in some provinces.

How long does switching electricity supplier take? E-Control says a switch may take at most three weeks, and it is free.