Stadtwerke Forst

Stadtwerke Forst is the municipal utility (Stadtwerke) of the town of Forst (Lausitz) in the Brandenburg region of eastern Germany. Operating under the motto "Aus der Region, für die Region" (from the region, for the region), it supplies households and businesses with electricity, natural gas and water, and manages drinking water and wastewater for the town. Its roots reach back to the early 20th century: the town's waterworks and landmark water tower were built between 1901 and 1903, and in 1923 the electricity works, gas works, waterworks and town railway were merged into the "Städtischen Betriebswerke Forst", the institutional forerunner of today's company. In recent years Stadtwerke Forst has broadened its offering beyond classic supply into innovative energy services. Its portfolio now includes photovoltaics, charging infrastructure for electric mobility, and tailored energy solutions for homes and businesses. The company has also modernised its brand identity: the name and slogan are now written out in full, the water tower is shown in a new perspective, and the arc has become a dynamic band — a symbol of the cloth-making town, its diversity and its ambition to actively shape the future. As a municipal utility, Stadtwerke Forst is owned by the town and operates as a local, regionally rooted provider rather than a national energy group. It serves customers through tariff products for electricity, natural gas and water, and offers a digital customer portal, "MEINE STADTWERKE", where customers can register, submit meter readings, view invoices, adjust instalments and manage contract details online around the clock. The company positions itself as a reliable, personal-service partner for energy supply and the energy transition in its home region.

The history of Stadtwerke Forst spans more than a century of municipal infrastructure in the town of Forst (Lausitz). The earliest chapter concerns water: the long-planned construction of the town waterworks was decided in 1901, together with a water tower to be located in the centre of the supply area. On 22 April 1902 the town entrusted the tower's construction to master mason Lüdecke, and the first sod was cut on 1 May. The final work on the tower's spire in 1903 was interrupted on 29 July by a whirlwind. In August the first functional tests were run at the waterworks, and a month later regular water supply from the central facility began. Until 1 October 1903 the town supplied water free of charge so that even the last pipe could be thoroughly flushed. In the 1920s the town's various utilities were consolidated. By resolution of Forst's town fathers on 10 October 1923, the electricity works, gas works, waterworks and town railway were united into the "Städtischen Betriebswerken Forst" (Municipal Works of Forst), chaired by the then mayor, Gründer. From 1928 the Badestraße combined heat and power plant generated district steam for industry, above all for the numerous cloth factories of the Neisse town. The Second World War brought disruption: although the water tower escaped major damage, water supply to the town was halted. It was not until 4 October 1945 that the water tower was put back into operation. In the post-war period the municipal operation was transformed into state (people's) property: on 4 October 1947 the Stadtwerke Forst merged with the Forst transport company to form the "Forster..." (Forst municipal enterprise), marking the shift from municipal to Volkseigentum ownership under the East German system. After German reunification, the utility re-emerged as a municipal company serving the town of Forst (Lausitz). In recent years it has expanded its offering deliberately into innovative energy services — from photovoltaics to charging infrastructure and individual solutions for homes and businesses — and modernised its brand appearance, with the name and slogan written out in full, the water tower shown in a new perspective, and the arc transformed into a dynamic band symbolising the cloth-making town, its diversity and its ambition to actively shape the future.

• 1947

  On 4 October the Stadtwerke Forst merged with the Forst transport company, marking the transition to state (people's) ownership.

• 1945

  Water supply to the town had been halted during the war; the water tower was put back into operation on 4 October.

• 1928

  The Badestraße combined heat and power plant began generating district steam for industry, especially the cloth factories.

• 1923

  On 10 October the electricity works, gas works, waterworks and town railway were merged into the "Städtischen Betriebswerken Forst".

• 1903

  Final work on the tower spire interrupted by a whirlwind on 29 July; first functional tests in August; regular water supply began a month later.

• 1902

  On 22 April the town entrusted the water tower's construction to master mason Lüdecke; first sod cut on 1 May.

• 1901

  Decision to build the town waterworks, including a water tower in the centre of the supply area.

Regional municipal utility positioned as a local, personal-service energy partner under the motto "Aus der Region, für die Region".

• Electricity tariffs

  Fair-condition electricity supply for households and businesses.

• Natural gas tariffs

  Natural gas supply with personal customer service.

• Water and wastewater for Forst (Lausitz)

  Drinking water and wastewater services for the town.

• Photovoltaics

  Solar power offerings added as part of expanded energy services.

• EV charging infrastructure

  Charging infrastructure for electric mobility.

• MEINE STADTWERKE online portal

  Digital customer service for meter readings, invoices, instalments and contract details.

1. 1Strom, Erdgas, Wasser – günstige Tarife | SW Forststadtwerke-forst.de
2. 2Onlineservice | SW Forststadtwerke-forst.de
3. 3Unsere Geschichte | SW Forststadtwerke-forst.de
4. 4Stadtwerke Forstwikidata.org