Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen

Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen GmbH is the municipal utility company of Kaltenkirchen, a town in the Segeberg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It describes itself as a young energy service company with a continuously growing portfolio and a personal, service-oriented approach to customer care. Its head office is at Kamper Weg 38 in Kaltenkirchen, and it employs roughly 25 people. The company is owned by the town of Kaltenkirchen and operates as a local supplier rather than a nationwide energy group. The company's core business is the supply of electricity and natural gas to households and businesses in Kaltenkirchen and the surrounding area. Over time it has broadened its offering to include heat contracting, drinking water, and telecommunications services. Under the brand "KakiConnect" it provides internet, telephone, TV and radio services, particularly in new-build districts and neighbourhoods connected to its fibre-optic network. It also operates the local electricity and gas distribution networks, having acquired these from the former regional owner, Schleswig-Holstein-Netz AG, and through the purchase of the gas network. Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen presents itself as a regional alternative to large national suppliers. Its website emphasises that switching to the company is free of charge, that no additional fees or levies are added to its final prices, and that it handles the formalities of a supplier change for customers moving from basic or special-tariff supply. Customers can obtain quotes through an online offer calculator and are served directly by local staff rather than an anonymous call centre. The company traces its roots to the start of gas supply in Kaltenkirchen, marked by a gas concession agreement signed on 5 November 1949 between the town and Hein Gas Hamburger Gaswerke GmbH, today part of E.ON Hanse. The modern Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen has been active since 2001, when, according to its own history, it began investing its energy in the future of Kaltenkirchen and the region. Since then it has taken over the local electricity network (2012), the electricity network in Oersdorf (2013), and the gas network (2016), and has expanded into telecommunications (2016). In 2019 it transferred responsibility for local public transport back to the town of Kaltenkirchen, with the Segeberg district taking over that task. As a municipal utility, Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen is a locally rooted infrastructure and service provider. Its activities span regulated network operation, competitive energy retail, water supply, heat solutions and broadband, making it a multi-utility serving both private households and the local economy.

The history of municipal energy supply in Kaltenkirchen begins with gas. On 5 November 1949, the town of Kaltenkirchen and Hein Gas Hamburger Gaswerke GmbH — today part of E.ON Hanse — signed a gas concession agreement, marking what the company calls the beginning of the natural gas era in Kaltenkirchen. In 2009 the company celebrated 60 years of gas supply in the town. The modern Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen has been active since 2001, when, in its own words, it began to invest its energy in the future of Kaltenkirchen and the region. Over the following two decades it steadily expanded both its service portfolio and its network assets. In 2009, towards mid-December, Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen GmbH concluded an electricity concession agreement with the municipality of Oersdorf. In August 2010 it signed the electricity concession agreement with the town of Kaltenkirchen. Also in 2010, the "Wärmecontracting" (heat contracting) offering was extended to private households. In 2011, with an eye to the future, the company began laying empty conduits for future broadband supply during civil engineering works. A major phase of network acquisition followed. On 1 January 2012, Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen acquired the electricity distribution network in Kaltenkirchen from its previous owner, Schleswig-Holstein-Netz AG. On 1 January 2013, it also acquired the electricity network in Oersdorf from the same former owner. On 1 January 2016, the existing lease agreement for the gas supply network in Kaltenkirchen was replaced by the outright purchase of the gas network. The company also diversified into telecommunications. On 1 March 2016, it activated telecommunications as an additional business segment under the name "KakiConnect", offering internet, telephone, TV and radio. In new-build areas and in districts connected to the fibre-optic network, customers could then access fast internet. On 31 May 2019, responsibility for public short-distance passenger transport was transferred back to the town of Kaltenkirchen; it would in future be handled by the Segeberg district. This marked a narrowing of the company's remit back towards energy, water, heat and telecommunications. By the 2020s the company described itself as a young energy service company with a continuously growing offering, roughly 25 employees, and a strong local focus. Its website highlights customer-friendly switching, free supplier changes, and direct local contact. It also notes regulatory changes such as the 24-hour supplier switching law that took effect on 6 June 2025.

• Gas concession agreement signed between the town of Kaltenkirchen and Hein Gas Hamburger Gaswerke GmbH, marking the beginning of the natural gas era in Kaltenkirchen.

• Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen begins investing in the future of Kaltenkirchen and the region, according to its own history.

• Electricity concession agreement concluded with the municipality of Oersdorf.

• 60 years of natural gas supply in Kaltenkirchen celebrated.

• Electricity concession agreement signed with the town of Kaltenkirchen.

• Heat contracting offering extended to private households.

• Empty conduits for future broadband supply laid during civil engineering works.

• Electricity distribution network in Kaltenkirchen acquired from Schleswig-Holstein-Netz AG.

• Electricity distribution network in Oersdorf acquired from Schleswig-Holstein-Netz AG.

• Gas supply network in Kaltenkirchen purchased outright, replacing the existing lease agreement.

• Telecommunications activated as an additional business segment under the name "KakiConnect".

• Responsibility for public short-distance passenger transport transferred back to the town of Kaltenkirchen; to be handled by the Segeberg district.

• 24-hour supplier switching law in effect, noted on the company's website.

Regional municipal multi-utility offering personal, local service as an alternative to large national energy suppliers.

• Electricity supply

  Electricity tariffs for households and businesses in Kaltenkirchen and the region.

• Natural gas supply

  Natural gas tariffs for households and businesses.

• Heat contracting (Wärmecontracting)

  Heat supply solutions, extended to private households in 2010.

• Drinking water supply

  Supply of drinking water to the town.

• KakiConnect

  Telecommunications services — internet, telephone, TV and radio — activated in 2016, especially in new-build areas and fibre-connected districts.

• Electricity and gas distribution network operation

  Operation of the local electricity and gas distribution networks acquired between 2012 and 2016.

1. 1Die Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen stellen sich vorstadtwerke-kaltenkirchen.de
2. 2Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen - Seit Jahren stark für Kaltenkirchen und die Region.stadtwerke-kaltenkirchen.de
3. 3Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen - Die Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen als attraktiver Arbeitgeber in der Region.stadtwerke-kaltenkirchen.de
4. 4Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchen - Mit voller Kraft voraus - für Kaltenkirchen, für die Region und für Sie.stadtwerke-kaltenkirchen.de
5. 5Stadtwerke Kaltenkirchenwikidata.org