What RhönEnergie Gruppe does

RhönEnergie Gruppe is a regional multi-utility group headquartered in Fulda, Germany, supplying electricity, natural gas, district heating, and drinking water to approximately 300,000 people in the Osthessen region and across Germany. The group operates 12 subsidiaries spanning network operation (OsthessenNetz GmbH), renewable energy generation (RhönEnergie Erneuerbare GmbH), biomethane production (Biothan GmbH), energy services (RhönEnergie Effizienz + Service GmbH), public bus transportation across 75+ lines (RhönEnergie Bus, VGF), three swimming facilities (RhönEnergie Bäderbetrieb), customer service, and holding entities. Consolidated revenue reached €934.5 million in 2022 (standalone €819.4M), with a balance sheet total of €597.6M.

Core technology combines regulated grid infrastructure with distributed renewable generation: over 1,000 EV charging points, a growing e-bus fleet (target 25 vehicles), utility-scale solar parks (Eichenzell, Rothemann) supporting 6,000 households each, and the Biothan biogas plant — described as unique in Germany for the breadth of its process chain. The company also runs intelligent street lighting control systems for municipalities (Künzell, Rasdorf, Großenlüder), trenchless sewer rehabilitation in water protection areas, and a wastewater heat pump system at the Löhertor-Areal district. Certifications include DVGW, VDE, ISO 50001, Grüner Strom Gold, Grünes Gas Label, and ÖkoTopTen.

The business model is a hybrid of regulated utility supply (default Grund- und Ersatzversorgung in concession area) plus competitive retail and B2B/enterprise contracts across multiple segments: residential households, business customers (Geschäftskunden), municipalities, housing associations (Wohnungswirtschaft), and large industrial customers. Go-to-market combines field sales for enterprise/municipal accounts, inside sales via service centers and phone, self-serve digital channels (online tariff calculator, customer portal, Ladekartenportal), and community-led referral programs (€60 'Kunden werben Kunden' bonus). Pricing is postcode-based and individually negotiated for energy, unit-priced for swimming (€4.70 adult single entry at Stadtbad Esperanto), and transaction-based for transport and charging. The group is ranked among Germany's Top 20 municipal energy suppliers and Top 50 localversorger, with Thüga AG (Munich) as one of four disclosed shareholders.

Name

RhönEnergie Gruppe

Legal name

RhönEnergie Fulda GmbH

Website

https://re-fd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Short description

RhönEnergie Gruppe is a Fulda-based German multi-utility supplying electricity, gas, heating, water, public bus transport, and swimming facilities to ~300,000 people in Osthessen via 12 subsidiaries, ranking among Germany's Top 20 municipal utilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Utility Energy and Municipal Services

NAICS

Utilities (22), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Natural Gas Distribution (22121), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Interconnection, Permitting & Grid Services for DERs (EUAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Municipal energy supply
• Regional utility services
• Public bus transport
• Electric mobility charging
• Drinking water supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Fulda

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Supply: Electricity supply to approximately 300,000 people and numerous businesses across Osthessen and nationwide. Revenue reported at €819.4 million (standalone, 2022) and €934.5 million (consolidated, 2022). Includes standard tariffs, dynamic tariffs, 100% green electricity, and regulated basic supply contracts.
2. Natural Gas Supply: Natural gas supply to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Osthessen and nationwide. Includes standard tariffs, biogas blends ('Zukunft Biogas'), and regulated basic supply contracts.
3. District Heating (Fernwärme): District heating supply covering multiple residential areas (Münsterfeld, Ziehers). Includes heat pump tariffs and night storage heating solutions.
4. Drinking Water Supply: Drinking water supply and management for the region. Services include water treatment, supply infrastructure management, groundwater protection, and climate protection concepts.
5. Public Transportation (Verkehrsbetriebe): Bus transport operations across 75+ lines in Osthessen and beyond via RhönEnergie Bus GmbH, RhönEnergie Verkehrsservice GmbH, and VGF Verkehrsgesellschaft Region Fulda mbH. Revenue from ticket sales (RMV, NVV, Deutschland-Ticket, senior tickets, school tickets) and public transport contracts.
6. Swimming Baths Operations: Operation of Sportbad Ziehers, Freibad Rosenau, and Stadtbad Esperanto in Fulda. Revenue from entry fees (adults €4.70, children €3.00, discounted group rates €3.20), season tickets, swimming course fees, and digital customer cards with up to 15% discount.
7. Energy Efficiency & Technical Services: Energy audits (DIN EN 16247-1), energy management systems (DIN ISO 50001), energy data management, energy consulting, lighting concepts, and building/housing energy solutions via RhönEnergie Effizienz + Service GmbH.
8. E-Mobility Charging Solutions: Charging infrastructure for electric vehicles including home charging (wallboxes), public charging stations (1,000+ charging points), fleet charging, and EV charging tariffs. Revenue from charging tariffs, THG quota credits (€80 bonus), and hardware sales.
9. Building & Renovation Services: Photovoltaic system installation and financing for homes, heating system installation and maintenance, new construction services (Baustrom, house connections), and energy consulting. Includes post-EEG services for existing PV installations.
10. Renewable Energy Project Development: Development and operation of solar parks and wind power participation via RhönEnergie Erneuerbare GmbH. Revenue from energy generation and feed-in tariffs, and equity stakes in renewable energy projects.
11. Bio-methane (Biothan): Biothan GmbH produces bio-methane from regional organic waste, generating biomethane for injection into the gas grid and fertilizer as byproduct. Revenue from biomethane sales and green certificates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RhönEnergie Gruppe is a regional multi-utility provider based in Fulda, Germany, supplying electricity, natural gas, district heating, and drinking water to approximately 300,000 people and numerous businesses in eastern Hesse. Beyond core energy and water supply, the group operates 75+ bus lines in public transport, manages three public swimming facilities (Stadtbad Esperanto, Sportbad Ziehers, Freibad Rosenau), maintains 1,000+ EV charging points, generates renewable energy through solar parks and biogas production (Biothan GmbH), and provides energy services including photovoltaic installation, heating services, and energy efficiency consulting via 12 subsidiaries.

Product overview

RhönEnergie Gruppe is a regional energy and infrastructure services company operating as a multi-utility provider. The portfolio is organized around four core pillars: Energy Supply (electricity, natural gas, heating, drinking water), Mobility (public bus transport with electric buses, e-mobility charging infrastructure), Baths/Recreation (swimming pools and wellness facilities), and Energy Services (photovoltaics, energy consulting, building & renovation services). The company serves approximately 300,000 people in eastern Hesse through its various subsidiaries including RhönEnergie Fulda, OsthessenNetz, RhönEnergie Effizienz+Service, RhönEnergie Erneuerbare, Biothan, and the transport and bath operations. Beyond core utilities, the company offers digital customer services via its online portal, business energy solutions, and community initiatives including swimming education programs and club sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strom (Electricity Supply) Electricity supply services for residential and business customers, including standard tariffs, dynamic tariffs, 100% green electricity (Ökostrom), and basic regulated supply (Grund- und Ersatzversorgung). Serves approximately 300,000 people and numerous businesses across Osthessen and nationwide.
• Erdgas (Natural Gas Supply) Natural gas supply services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Osthessen and nationwide. Includes standard tariffs, Zukunft Biogas (biogas blend) options, and basic regulated supply contracts.
• Wärme (Heat and District Heating) Heat supply services including heat pump electricity tariffs, night storage heating tariffs, and district heating (Fernwärme) covering residential areas such as Münsterfeld and Ziehers. Also includes wastewater heat pump systems for urban developments.
• Trinkwasser (Drinking Water Supply) Drinking water supply and management for the region including water treatment, supply infrastructure management, groundwater protection, and climate protection concepts.
• E-Mobilität (Electric Mobility Services) Comprehensive e-mobility solutions including home charging (Wallbox), public EV charging stations (1,000+ charging points across the region), fleet charging solutions, E-mobility tariffs, and THG quota monetization (€80 bonus for EV owners).
• Photovoltaik (Solar PV Systems) Photovoltaic systems for residential and commercial properties including consultation, installation, financing, subsidy guidance, and free-field systems. Includes post-EEG services for existing PV installations.
• Busverkehr (Public Bus Transport) Public bus transportation services across 75+ lines in eastern Hesse via RhönEnergie Bus GmbH, RhönEnergie Verkehrsservice GmbH, and VGF Verkehrsgesellschaft Region Fulda mbH. Includes city buses, regional buses, school transport, and electric bus fleet operations. Revenue from RMV/NVV tickets, Deutschland-Ticket, and senior/student fares.
• Bäder (Swimming Pool Operations) Operation of three public swimming facilities in Fulda: Sportbad Ziehers (indoor sports pool), Freibad Rosenau (outdoor pool, €800,000 renovation in 2026), and Stadtbad Esperanto (modern leisure pool). Includes swimming courses, season tickets, and digital prepaid cards with loyalty discounts up to 15%.
• Energieberatung (Energy Consulting) Professional energy consulting services for residential and business customers including energy audits (DIN EN 16247-1), energy management systems per DIN ISO 50001, energy data management, energy efficiency consulting, and lighting concepts.
• Beleuchtungskonzepte (Lighting Concepts) Modern and efficient lighting concepts for businesses and municipalities, including intelligent street lighting control systems with dynamic adjustment based on time and need, and indoor/outdoor commercial LED lighting solutions.
• Heizungsservice (Heating Installation and Maintenance) Heating system installation, maintenance, and consulting services for residential and commercial properties including heating system advisory, heat pump registration with network operators, and heating installation.
• Neubau-Anschlüsse (New Construction Connections) New construction energy services including Baustrom (construction site electricity), house connection applications (Hausanschluss), subsidy guidance, and Standrohr (water standpipe) rental.
• Biothan (Bio-methane Production) Production of bio-methane (Bio-Erdgas) and fertilizer from regionally sourced organic waste via Biothan GmbH. The plant is described as unique in Germany for the breadth and depth of its process chain and is awarded by the German Biogas Association as a lighthouse project.
• Energielösungen für Geschäftskunden (Business Energy Solutions) Comprehensive customized energy solutions for business customers including energy supply contracts, photovoltaic installations, lighting concepts, energy management systems, and e-mobility fleet solutions via RhönEnergie Effizienz + Service GmbH.

Quantifiable outcome

• 370 tonnes of CO2 saved annually by 6 electric buses
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SG BarockstadtcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 August 2025Joint football camp for youth teams (JSG Rhön, Lauter und Werratal) with SG Barockstadt professional football club. RhönEnergie sponsors youth football training and offers a football training camp with the professional club as a prize.
• DLRG Bezirk Osthessen-FuldaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Long-term strategic partnership for the swim4you program, jointly developed by RhönEnergie and DLRG to address the alarming decline in swimming abilities among children. The program aims to teach 2,000 children to swim in the region. As of November 2024, over 1,500 children had learned to swim across 186 courses, with 1,350 earning their Seepferdchen badge.
• Stadtwerke HünfeldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCooperation with Stadtwerke Hünfeld to deploy 8 new EV charging stations in Hünfeld, providing a unified charging system across the county.
• atzert:weberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with atzert:weber for deployment of 22 new EV charging points in Fulda, integrating the partner's capabilities in charging infrastructure deployment.
• Florian WehnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint investor with RhönEnergie in the largest solar park in the Fulda district (Rothemann), generating electricity for 6,000 households. Both parties jointly developed and invested in this renewable energy project.
• Energie-Genossenschaft BurghaunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint PV project with Energie-Genossenschaft Burghaun to develop two PV freiflächenanlagen (ground-mounted solar installations) in Burghaun for local renewable energy generation.
• Gemeinde KünzellcoreGTM or Marketing Partner20-year concession agreement renewal for energy network operations. Jointly agreed on modernization of street lighting with intelligent light control systems, combining municipal infrastructure investment with energy savings.
• Gemeinde EbersburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcession contract for the electricity grid awarded to RhönEnergie, granting the company rights to operate and develop the municipal electricity network.
• Hochschule FuldaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fulda University of Applied Sciences. VDE Rhein-Main awards Friedrich-Dessauer-Stiftungspreis at the university. Students visit RhönEnergie operations (waterworks tours for school networks).
• OSTHESSEN|NEWSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional news media partner for swim4you and other RhönEnergie community initiatives. Joint promotion of regional programs.
• Regionalwerk Main-Spessart (newly founded)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRhönEnergie Gruppe is a co-founder of the new Regionalwerk in the Main-Spessart district, extending its renewable energy engagement into the neighboring Bavarian district.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• N-ERGIE Aktiengesellschaft: Nuremberg-based regional multi-utility supplying electricity, gas, heat, and water to ~700,000 customers in Middle Franconia. Comparable regional multi-utility with similar product portfolio and municipal ownership structure, though larger than RhönEnergie.
• Energieversorgung Offenbach (EVO): Offenbach-based municipal utility in the Rhine-Main region of Hesse providing electricity, gas, heat, and water. Closely comparable regional Stadtwerk in the same German state with similar size and customer base structure.
• Stadtwerke München (SWM): Munich's municipal utility, one of Germany's largest Stadtwerke with electricity, gas, district heating, water, public transport (MVG), and swimming pools. Directly comparable integrated multi-utility model serving a major German city, though significantly larger in scale.
• Stadtwerke Düsseldorf: Düsseldorf's municipal multi-utility providing electricity, gas, heat, water, and public transport. Comparable integrated Stadtwerk model with similar product portfolio and municipal ownership; useful for benchmarking service scope and pricing.
• Stadtwerke Leipzig: Leipzig municipal utility supplying electricity, gas, district heating, water, and public transport in eastern Germany. Comparable integrated multi-utility with similar product mix including renewables and e-mobility investments.
• Mainova AG: Frankfurt-based regional multi-utility (Stadtwerk) supplying electricity, gas, heat, and water to ~1M customers in Hesse. Comparable in business model (integrated multi-utility), regional footprint (Hesse), customer segments, and regulatory status (municipal utility). Most directly comparable German peer.
• HSE Technik / HSE AG: Darmstadt-area multi-utility (HEAG Südhessische Energie AG / HSE) supplying electricity, gas, heat, and water in southern Hesse. Directly comparable regional German municipal utility with overlapping geographic service area in Hesse.

Others

• EnBW AG: Large German integrated utility with generation, distribution, e-mobility, and municipal/customer solutions. Broad incumbent in the same energy space, competing for retail customers and renewable project development, though operating at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Thüga AG: Munich-based municipal utility holding company that is already a shareholder of RhönEnergie via Kom9/Kom9 GmbH. Operates a network of over 100 municipal utilities across Germany; a strategic shareholder/partner rather than a competitor, but highly relevant for benchmarking and capital partnership comparisons.

Broad incumbents

• E.ON SE: One of Europe's largest utilities operating distribution networks, customer solutions, and energy services across Germany and beyond. Broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities (electricity/gas distribution, e-mobility, energy services) but at national/European scale; serves as the key strategic competitor for retail energy supply.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@rhoenenergie

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RhönEnergie Gruppe