Until now, the Munich utilities company (Stadtwerke München, SWM) maintained a single fixed tariff for charging electric vehicles at public stations, which simplified billing but failed to account for individual consumption profiles. Starting this July, the situation will fundamentally change: the operator is introducing three differentiated pricing models. Due to this large-scale restructuring of commercial terms, current clients of the company will soon receive official notifications regarding the termination of their existing contracts, requiring timely legal and technical actions from car owners.
The Munich utilities company (SWM) is thus responding to the pan-European trend toward the commercialization of charging networks. From July, the company will offer three electricity payment models at its public charging stations, segmenting the audience into categories based on the frequency of vehicle use. In connection with this, owners of active charging cards will receive official letters with explanations: to maintain access to the infrastructure, they must independently switch to one of the new tariff plans.
New EV Charging Tariffs in Munich
Until now, SWM cardholders enjoyed uniform, transparent prices without a fixed monthly fee, where basic alternating current (AC) charging cost 49 cents per kWh, and fast direct current (DC) charging was priced at 69 cents per kWh. Starting July 1, 2026, consumers will have to choose from three alternative options.
The first option is the basic “Flex” tariff, which fully mirrors the previous model without permanent mandatory payments and is targeted at drivers with a minimal or irregular charging cycle within the city.
The second option is “Komfort,” developed for regular EV charging. This model involves a fixed subscription fee of €4.95 per month, but reduces the unit cost of energy to 44 cents per kWh when using alternating current (AC) and to 64 cents per kWh when connecting to direct current (DC) stations.
The third option is the professional “Pro” tariff, created for commercial carriers and individuals who operate electric vehicles intensively. With a subscription fee of €14.95 per month, the cost per kWh drops to 42 cents (AC) and 54 cents (DC), respectively. A full interactive overview to help determine the optimal financial profile is available on the official page.
For strict legal reasons and in accordance with the provisions of German civil law, SWM does not have the authority to unilaterally change the terms of active long-term service contracts for charging cards—this rule applies even to cases where the selected tariff actually remains the same in terms of its set of options. For this reason, the old agreements are subject to mandatory termination by the service provider. However, to avoid service interruptions, users can already log in and select their preferred tariff model in their personal account to continue using their existing charging card seamlessly through the summer period.
In conclusion, SWM’s transition to a differentiated tariff system reflects the maturation process of the Bavarian infrastructure market. Introducing a subscription fee for active users while simultaneously lowering the cost of the actual kilowatt-hour allows for a redistribution of the financial burden, making long-term EV ownership more predictable for those who use it as their primary means of transportation. For the end consumer, a timely audit of their own monthly electricity consumption will be the key factor for a successful adaptation to the new economic conditions.
