German households choose their electricity supplier freely, but the wires belong to someone else. In a power cut the supplier can do nothing. A comparison portal tells the customers of one supplier: Bei einem Stromausfall ist nicht GMX Strom, sondern Ihr Netzbetreiber zuständig. In a power cut, your network operator is responsible, not GMX Strom. The next line runs through the house. Under the ordinance on low-voltage connections, the owner is responsible for the electrical installation hinter der Hausanschlusssicherung, behind the main house fuse.