If you are not a fan of crowds or too many people then Slovenia will be a perfect place for you to stay. Though centrally placed in Europe, Slovenia has a relatively low population density. So, you can interact with its diverse geography and population without worrying about overcrowding.
What’s more, Slovenia has a temperate climate that is favorable for most of the year. However, like other countries in Europe, winters can get very cold here. So you are going to need access to a reliable electricity and heating provider. The good news is, getting connected to these utilities is pretty straightforward.
Electricity and Heating Services in Slovenia
Slovenia has a well-connected electric power transmission network. The energy market is fully liberalized with many players in the market. This is good news for you because not only are you assured of quality services, but also the ability to choose the best.
As you look for accommodation around Slovenia, you will notice that most houses are connected to the central gas and electricity network. This is because most households use electricity and gas for heating and cooking.
However, electricity is the more popular of the two. The electricity and gas rates will differ depending on the season. For example, you can expect to pay more for electricity and gas during the colder months than the warmer months.
Connecting to Electricity and Gas Heating in Slovenia
Whether you are buying a new home or renting in Slovenia, setting up your electricity and gas connection should be straightforward. These two utilities are a necessity which is why the responsible agencies will not bluff about them at all. Actually, something pleasant is that most houses currently in use in Slovenia have installed heating and electricity already.
Since there are electricity and heating connections already, someone renting an apartment will just continue paying the bills for their consumption. The case may be different for those buying own private homes. In this latter case, you will have two options. The first is to disconnect and reconnect. I wouldn’t recommend this though because it is time consuming, expensive and honestly very unnecessary. The second option is to continue with the connection but transfer the account to your own name. While some landlords will allow you to keep your bill in their own names, this is expensive and inconveniencing. You will incur extra costs since this is not their primary residence.
As soon as you transfer the account to your own name, you can choose a new provider or continue with the existing one. My advice, compare services and prices from different providers then choose the best and most affordable one. Another option would be to keep the connection, close the account and open a new one in your own name.
You should also remember that your provider will let you choose the best plan depending on your needs. Afterwards, you will need to sign a new contract that includes your tariff and electricity and gas rates. You should also expect to pay a considerable connection fee during your application. The fee will vary from one provider to another.
Electricity and Gas Providers in Slovenia
There are many electricity and gas providers in Slovenia. Each provider applies different rates to their services. Similarly, they provide various tariffs so their customers can choose one that best suits their needs. You should also focus on the availability and quality of the provider’s customer service. This is important since the websites might not always be in English.
The main providers in Slovenia include; Západoslovenská distribučná, a. s., Stredoslovenská distribučná, a. s. and Východoslovenská distribučná, a. s. All the providers allow their customers to subscribe to their services through post, email or online. All the providers offer different tariffs depending on the usage and needs of their clients. Before, you settle on a provider, you should check if they are available in your area. Some suppliers are only available regionally.
In most cases, they will ask for your personal details, so include an ID or passport. Similarly, you should include your tenant agreement complete with the details of the property including location. I also recommend getting a local bank account to make payment easier or automatic.
Electricity and Gas Bills for houses in Slovenia
Electricity and gas in Slovenia are measured by installed meters unless there are special circumstances or agreement with the supplier. However, you can only rent a meter so it remains the property of the supplier. Meter readings are conducted periodically depending on your provider.
As soon as you sign an agreement with your supplier, you can expect to receive a monthly bill based on your usage. However, the bill is just an estimate of what you use on average every month. This shouldn’t bother you though because once the meter is read, your supplier will reconcile your invoices and indicate the correct reading.
As a tenant, it remains your responsibility to note the meter readings in your new house and include them in your application to ensure that you are only paying for the electricity and gas you use. Of course the service providers or rental companies also have a reading but it doesn’t harm to keep a check. Also, read the fine print in the contract to avoid any hidden fees. Because of the availability of many suppliers in the market, some have been known to advertise lower rates and include hidden fees.
Since you will be paying a fixed amount for gas and electricity monthly, you can organize your finances accordingly. Most providers allow you to pay through a bank deposit or bank transfer to the relevant account; or a money order attached to the connection agreement.
