I’ve been living in an apartment complex run by a Bauverein since 2018 and am moving out at the end of the month. I never entered a contract with an electricity supplier because: 1) no one told me to; and 2) I thought this was included in the monthly Betriebskostenvorauszahlung. I never received any bills or notice to pay/register. In my home country they cut your power if you don’t pay on time, so I assumed there was no problem.

I just found out (by accident) today that this wasn’t the case. There’s been no problem or question from the Bauverein so far.

My questions to the hive mind: 1) Do I have obligations for back charges (even if I never entered a contract)? 2) How to best navigate this situation? Do I just walk away or am I liable for something?