Energy Flat Rate Living: Rent That Includes Electricity

Living Without Utility Bill Shock

Imagine this: You pay a monthly rent – and everything is included. Electricity, heating, hot water, even charging your electric car. No utility bills, no back payments, no nasty surprises. What sounds like a pipe dream is already a reality in Germany – and it's economically viable.

The concept is called Energy Flat-Rate Living (or all-inclusive rent/fixed rent) and is based on a simple principle: If a building generates most of its own energy, energy costs become predictable – and can be included in a flat rate.

How Does the Model Work?

The foundation is an All-Electric building that largely covers its own energy needs:

• Photovoltaics on the roof and/or facade generate electricity
• Battery storage buffers surpluses for evening and night hours
• Infrared heating or heat pump replaces traditional gas or oil heating
• Decentralized hot water preparation via storage solutions
• Intelligent energy management optimizes generation and consumption

If at least 50 percent of the energy demand is covered by solar power, the building is exempt from the Heating Cost Ordinance – and the path to a flat-rate rent is clear.

Convincing Practical Examples

The EVERSOL research project by TU Bergakademie Freiberg analyzed the data from the Cottbus solar houses over five years. The result: No wasteful behavior by tenants, energy consumption was largely covered by solar energy.

"The flat-rate rent also works in solar multi-family houses. Between 70 and 77 percent of the electricity and 50 to 55 percent of the heat demand were covered by solar energy."
— Dr. Thomas Storch, TU Bergakademie Freiberg

Why This Also Pays Off for Landlords

The higher investment costs for PV, storage, and infrared heating amortize – and faster than expected:

Higher Equity Return: According to the EVERSOL project, under the given conditions, the flat-rate rent ensures a higher return than standard rental models.

No CO₂ Tax: Those who don't burn fossil gas or oil also don't pay a CO₂ levy – a cost advantage that grows every year.

Radical Simplification of Technology: Prof. Timo Leukefeld, one of the leading experts in energy self-sufficient buildings, puts it succinctly: "Cables instead of pipes." Fewer pipelines mean less maintenance, fewer craftsman bottlenecks, fewer repair costs.

Less Vacancy: A guaranteed flat-rate rent without the risk of back payments is a strong argument when looking for tenants.

What Does This Have to Do with REVOLUTION E?

This is precisely where our core competence lies. The technologies that make up an energy flat-rate building are exactly the building blocks that we have been planning, installing, and operating for years:

• PV systems from 10 kWp in-roof to 600 kWp large-scale systems
• Battery storage for self-consumption optimization and peak shaving
• Charging infrastructure with OCPP backend and load management
• Smart Building & KNX for intelligent building control
• Energy management with monitoring, reporting, and tariff optimization

Our Innovation HUB in Frickenhausen is itself a demonstration object for this concept: All-Electric, with a PV system, storage, infrared heating, and a 150 kW CCS fast charger.

Conclusion: The Future of Living Is Electric

The energy flat rate is not a niche product for eco-pioneers. It is an economically viable model that gives tenants planning security, provides landlords with higher returns, and incidentally already meets the 2045 climate goals today.

The question is no longer whether, but how quickly this model will prevail. Those who invest in all-electric buildings today are laying the foundation for affordable, sustainable living – and a real competitive advantage in the real estate market.

Sources: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / EVERSOL Research Project (2018–2023), Wilhelmshavener Spar- und Baugesellschaft eG, Prof. Timo Leukefeld, pv magazine (06/2024)