Osterburg starts a cheap electricity market – sustainability for the region!

Osterburg starts a cheap electricity market – sustainability for the region!

In Osterburg, a city in Saxony-Anhalt, a new regional electricity market is celebrating its opening: “EnwiO”. This exciting project, which Energiewerke Osterburg launched in collaboration with Bayernwerke Regio Energie, is intended to revolutionize the local energy system and strengthen the acceptance of wind power and photovoltaics. But what exactly does this mean for residents in the 39606 zip code?

The new tariff from EnwiO scores with attractive prices that are up to ten cents per kilowatt hour cheaper than the usual market energy costs. It's just more fun when the money for electricity doesn't weigh so heavily. The mayor of Osterburg, Nico Schulz, also sees this as an opportunity: “The local energy supply increases acceptance of the energy transition.” The aim of the project is to optimally introduce people to renewable energies and to promote the decentralized energy market in the city. Most of the electricity is generated from nearby wind and solar parks.

The new approach to energy supply

There is a well thought-out concept behind EnwiO. The cooperation agreement was signed on June 12, 2025, which sets the course for a future-oriented energy supply. The approach is similar to that of regional food: electricity that is generated and consumed locally. Energiewerke Osterburg GmbH, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Osterburg and Avacon Natur, offers certified green electricity with the “enwiO” tariffs. Citizens can benefit from a working price of 29.97 cents per kilowatt hour and a basic price of 16.99 euros per month.

What's next? A discussion with local system operators is intended to ensure that even more renewable energy is fed into the system. There is a good chance that other renewable energy providers from the region will also take part, thereby helping to provide a reliable electricity mix locally. Heiko Karg, the managing director of Energiewerke Osterburg, emphasizes that the tariff can also be specifically adapted to individual towns or streets - a clear advantage for the region.

Challenges and opportunities

Although the project sounds promising, it is still in its early stages. Negotiations with other electricity producers are ongoing and there are concerns that not all municipalities will be able to achieve similar savings for their citizens. Some have sponsorship agreements with various electricity producers, but this does not usually result in lower electricity costs for residents.

In addition, there is a clear need for educational work on the energy transition, especially in East Germany. The Energy Monitor Saxony-Anhalt even reports that an astonishing 1,000 percent more electricity is produced in the unified municipality of Ostergburg than is actually consumed. This shows the enormous potential of the region, but also the challenge of connecting consumers with this offer.

In the near future it will become clear whether the concept of Energiewerke Osterburg and Bayernwerke Regio Energie can generate the desired trust and acceptance among people. The future may be uncertain, but the foundations for a successful energy transition have been laid. The hope for a greener, sustainable energy future is not just a dream, but will soon become a reality in Osterburg.

For further information on these developments and older trends in the field of renewable energies, you can also contact the Federal Ministry of Economics, which provides ongoing information about the progress and importance of renewable energies in Germany.