WEVG Salzgitter GmbH & Co. KG
WEVG Salzgitter is the local municipal energy and water utility for Salzgitter, Germany, supplying electricity, natural gas, heat and drinking water to around 55,000 customers.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
WEVG Salzgitter GmbH & Co. KG — originally standing for Wasser- und Energieversorgungsgesellschaft (Water and Energy Supply Company) — is the local energy and water utility headquartered in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, Germany. It supplies electricity, natural gas, district heat and drinking water to households, businesses and industry within the city of Salzgitter and its surrounding area, serving roughly 55,000 customers. The company is rooted in the city and positions itself as a local partner that knows the town and its people, offering not only commodity supply but also advice on economical energy solutions. The company was founded on 17 February 1940 in Berlin as Wasser- und Energieversorgungsgesellschaft mbH Göringwerke, an initiative of the Reichswerke, which needed a partner to supply water and energy to the workers settling outside the factory gates in the new Watenstedt-Salzgitter economic area. Operations began in Watenstedt with four engineers, 16 craftsmen and nine merchants. After the Second World War the gas supply was interrupted and only provisionally resumed in 1946; the future of both the city and the utility remained uncertain until the steelworks reconstruction began in 1951. Over the following decades WEVG expanded into liquefied gas (1952), founded the Gasgemeinschaft Salzgitter (1967), took over the city's water supply, and from 1988 was held through the city-owned Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH Salzgitter (VVS). Ownership evolved further after 2000: the city sold 5% stakes each to Avacon and Thüga in 2000, Thüga exited in 2004 with its shares transferred to Avacon, and in 2008 Avacon reached 50.2% while contributing its electricity business, making WEVG the electricity supplier in Salzgitter from 1 January 2008 and giving the company its current name, WEVG Salzgitter. In July 2010 the GmbH was converted into the GmbH & Co. KG. Today the shareholder structure remains Avacon (an E.ON subsidiary) with 50.2% and the City of Salzgitter via VVS with 49.8%. WEVG's offering covers electricity, natural gas, heat and drinking water, supported by an online customer portal and app, customer advice, a quarterly customer newspaper "tag und nacht", and environmental tips. Since 2023 the company states that it supplies electricity that is balanced as 100% attributable to renewable energy sources. It also provides services around house connections, energy efficiency and mobility, while the gas and electricity network connections in its area are operated by Avacon Netz GmbH.
History
WEVG was founded on 17 February 1940 in Berlin, the seat of the Reichswerke AG main administration, as Wasser- und Energieversorgungsgesellschaft mbH Göringwerke. The initiative came from the Reichswerke, which needed a partner to supply water and energy to the people settling outside the factory boundaries in the new Watenstedt-Salzgitter economic area. Three years earlier, specialists had discovered one of Germany's largest iron ore deposits there, planning for a smelting works was complete, and construction of the state-owned Reichswerke AG für Erzbergbau und Eisenhütten Hermann Göring (from which today's Salzgitter AG emerged) had begun. Thousands of apartments were to be built quickly for workers and their families. The new utility was based in Watenstedt, where four engineers, 16 craftsmen and nine merchants began work on a former farm. Construction of supply networks for coke oven gas from the Reichswerk and for drinking water started in Lebenstedt and Gebhardshagen. In 1941 WEVG took over the first water supply network from the then housing company, serving 2,801 households. Wartime shortages of labour and building materials slowed network expansion; by summer 1944, 69 kilometres of supply lines and 11 kilometres of house connection lines had been laid under the most difficult conditions. In April 1945 the American army occupied the city and gas supply was halted, resuming only provisionally on 1 July 1946 through purchases from Ruhrgas. After Germany's capitulation in 1945 and in the early post-war years, the future of Salzgitter and WEVG was uncertain; there were plans to dismantle the Reichswerke, which would have abruptly ended all city and utility planning. Reconstruction of the smelting works only began in 1951. In 1952 liquefied gas supply (Salzgitter-Gas) started, and on 27 April 1967 the Gasgemeinschaft Salzgitter was founded. The city of Salzgitter officially transferred the water supply to WEVG, which had previously handled it under a framework agreement. From 1988 the city was no longer a direct shareholder; instead the newly founded Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH Salzgitter (VVS), wholly owned by the city, held the stake. In 1995 the ASG, Abwasserentsorgung Salzgitter, was founded, and in 1999 the first concession agreement for natural gas supply outside the city area was concluded. After 2000 the ownership structure changed repeatedly. In 2000 the city sold 5% of shares each to Avacon and Thüga, with VVS retaining 90%. In 2002 WEVG took over the heat business area from Preussag Immobilien. In 2004 Thüga exited as a shareholder and its shares were transferred to Avacon (totalling 10%). In 2005 WEVG took over district heat supply from the Salzgitter Flachstahl power plant. In 2008 the shareholder proportions and the company name changed: Avacon henceforth held 50.2% of WEVG and contributed its electricity division, making WEVG the electricity supplier in Salzgitter from 1 January 2008; the new company name became WEVG Salzgitter. In July 2010 the corporation WEVG Salzgitter GmbH was converted into the partnership WEVG Salzgitter GmbH & Co. KG. Around 2010 the company employed roughly 260 people and served about 55,000 customers in the household, commercial and industrial sectors. Today the shareholders remain Avacon, an E.ON subsidiary, with 50.2% of the capital, and the City of Salzgitter with 49.8%. The supply area is the city of Salzgitter and its surrounding region, and since 2023 WEVG states that it supplies electricity balanced as 100% attributable to renewable energy sources.
- 2023
WEVG begins supplying electricity balanced as 100% attributable to renewable energy sources.
- 2010
In July, WEVG Salzgitter GmbH is converted into WEVG Salzgitter GmbH & Co. KG.
- 2008
Avacon holds 50.2% and contributes its electricity division; WEVG becomes electricity supplier in Salzgitter from 1 January and is renamed WEVG Salzgitter.
- 2005
WEVG takes over district heat supply from the Salzgitter Flachstahl power plant.
- 2004
Thüga exits as shareholder; its shares are transferred to Avacon (totalling 10%).
- 2002
WEVG takes over the heat business area from Preussag Immobilien.
- 2000
City sells 5% of shares each to Avacon and Thüga; VVS retains 90%.
- 1999
First concession agreement for natural gas supply outside the city area concluded.
- 1995
ASG, Abwasserentsorgung Salzgitter, is founded.
- 1988
City of Salzgitter ceases to be a direct shareholder; VVS, wholly owned by the city, takes the stake.
Products and positioning
Local, community-rooted municipal energy and water utility for Salzgitter and its surroundings, combining commodity supply with personal advice and economic energy solutions.
Electricity
Electricity tariffs for families, singles, small and large households and businesses; since 2023 balanced as 100% renewable-attributed.
Natural gas
Natural gas supply for household, commercial and industrial customers in Salzgitter and surroundings.
District heat (Wärme)
Heat supply, including district heating taken over from the Salzgitter Flachstahl power plant in 2005.
Drinking water
Drinking water supply for the city of Salzgitter and surrounding area.
Online customer portal and app
Portal and app for registration, deregistration, transfers, meter readings, direct debit, product changes and advance payment changes.
Customer newspaper "tag und nacht"
Quarterly customer newspaper distributed to customers and available online as PDF.
Sources6 sources
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