WSW mobil offers three heat pump tariffs with up to 60 percent grid charge discount

WSW mobil GmbH – the energy division of Wuppertal City Utilities – has been marketing three specialized tariffs for heat pump operation since the beginning of 2026. Controllable systems with a separate meter receive a reduction in the grid usage work price to 40 percent under Module 2. This also completely eliminates the basic fee for grid usage on this second meter. The tariffs are based on different metering concepts and controllability and are aimed at new systems from 2024 as well as existing systems with older meter structures.

Three modules for different metering topologies

Module 1 is aimed at controllable heat pumps with single or dual meter metering that were put into operation or retrofitted to be controllable after January 1, 2024. Customers receive a flat relief of up to 137.12 euros gross per year. However, the full flat rate only applies if the grid usage costs reach at least this amount. If they fall below, only the actual amount is refunded. For joint metering, the work price is 32.84 cents/kWh gross; for separate metering, it drops to 28.95 cents/kWh gross. The basic fee is 236.23 euros gross per year in each case.

Module 2 requires separate metering and controllability. Here, the work price drops to 24.38 cents/kWh gross, the basic fee to 159 euros per year. Additionally, in accordance with smart meter requirements, the CHP surcharge and offshore network surcharge are completely eliminated – this relief under § 22 Energy Financing Act is linked to a separate meter point according to WSW. For electricians, this means: If you install a new heat pump today, you should check early whether the system is designed to be controllable and whether a second meter makes sense. The difference between Module 1 and Module 2 at an assumed consumption of 5,000 kWh per year is approximately 230 euros gross.

Existing systems with dual tariff meter: HT/NT tariff

For non-controllable heat pumps that were put into operation before January 1, 2024, WSW offers the "Electricity Heat Pump HT/NT" tariff. The prerequisite is a dual tariff meter with two meters for peak rate (HT) and off-peak rate (NT). A reduced work price applies during the off-peak rate times of the network operator. This tariff can be terminated monthly and runs indefinitely. Retrofitting to be controllable is also possible for existing customers, but requires technical modifications by an installer and registration with WSW Netz GmbH. The customer service center Networks of WSW Netz can be reached Monday to Thursday from 8 to 15:30 and Friday until 14:00.

Controllability as a prerequisite: What electricians need to know

Controllability in the context of WSW tariffs means that the network operator can temporarily dim the heat pump in case of network bottlenecks. This creates clear requirements for installers:

WSW points out that when household electricity and heat pump are metered jointly via one meter, both consumptions are billed together. The work price for Module 1 with joint metering is 32.84 cents/kWh gross – significantly higher than the Module 2 tariff of 24.38 cents/kWh. For new building projects or renovations, the installation of a second meter is therefore recommended if the heat pump is designed to be controllable. The additional costs for the second meter point amortize within a few years at a typical heat pump consumption of 4,000 to 6,000 kWh per year.

Green electricity option and new customer bonus

All three tariffs can optionally be combined with 100 percent green electricity. The additional agreement "WSW Electricity Green" costs a surcharge according to the provider, the amount of which is not specified in the source material. New and existing customers receive a bonus of 15 percent, which is shown as a "new customer or Wuppertal bonus". The tariffs are outside the basic supply, run indefinitely, and can be terminated monthly. This gives electrical installers planning certainty when they want to provide their customers with a long-term cost forecast for heat pump operation.

Consumption and efficiency: 3,000 to 6,000 kWh per year

According to WSW, the average electricity consumption of a heat pump is between 3,000 and 6,000 kWh annually. The actual amount depends on building insulation, heating behavior, and the size of the heated object. A well-insulated existing property with 150 square meters of living space tends to be at the lower end of the range, an old building with poor insulation at the upper end. For tariff selection, this range is relevant: At 3,000 kWh annual consumption, the difference between Module 1 (joint metering) and Module 2 is approximately 254 euros gross per year. At 6,000 kWh, it rises to over 500 euros.

WSW emphasizes that heat pumps draw more energy from the environment than they need electricity. Typical annual performance factors for modern air or ground source heat pumps are between 3.5 and 4.5 – meaning that for every kilowatt-hour of electricity used, 3.5 to 4.5 kWh of heat are generated. For electricians advising their customers on the choice between gas and electric heating, this efficiency is a central argument. Combined with an affordable heat pump tariff, operating costs drop significantly compared to fossil heating systems.

Classification: Heat pump tariffs as a business field for utilities

WSW mobil is not the only utility offering specialized tariffs for controllable consumption devices. Many regional energy suppliers are responding with similar models to the increasing number of heat pump installations and legal requirements for grid relief. The differentiation based on controllability and metering topology corresponds to the requirements of the Energy Financing Act, which requires network operators to integrate controllable loads. For electricians, this means: Anyone planning a heat pump today should factor in controllability and a second meter from the start – otherwise customers will miss out on significant savings.

The WSW tariffs offer a transparent price structure with clear relief levels. For the installation of energy management systems in combination with photovoltaic systems and heat pumps, interesting synergies emerge: Those who prefer to use self-generated solar electricity for the heat pump further reduce grid consumption. Articles such as Solarwatt and BMW deepen partnership for Vehicle-to-Home integration show how heat pumps, PV systems, and electric mobility can be connected into an integrated system. The prefabricated solutions for §14a EnWG also make it clear that controllable consumption devices in the low-voltage grid will become standard in the future.

Further information and tariff calculators are available on the WSW website at wsw-online.de. For technical inquiries regarding controllability and meter concepts, the customer service center Networks of WSW Netz GmbH is responsible.

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