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Wind and solar expansion: grid costs to fall

Brandenburg's state government has been fighting for electricity price reform for a long time and considers the current system to be unfair. A proposal from the Federal Network Agency is now on the table that could bring financial relief for consumers.

,   and  ZEITUNG «AUSSIEDLERBOTE»
3 min read
Wind turbines and high-voltage power lines can be seen against the evening sky. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de
Wind turbines and high-voltage power lines can be seen against the evening sky. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Energy - Wind and solar expansion: grid costs to fall

Households and companies in regions with a strong expansion of wind and solar power are to be relieved of electricity grid charges. The Brandenburg state government had long been pushing for a fairer distribution of costs. On Friday, the Federal Network Agency presented a reform proposal.

Brandenburg's Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach supported the proposal. "It is unacceptable that consumers in the federal states that are most consistently driving forward the expansion of renewable energies end up with the highest electricity costs," said the SPD politician.

According to the grid agency, an average household with an annual consumption of 3,500 kilowatt hours could save up to 120 euros a year if the proposal is implemented. "Even though I would have liked to see greater relief, the proposals are a step in the right direction for the first time, as they distribute the costs more evenly among consumers," said Steinbach.

According to the grid agency's ideas, the higher costs in regions with a strong expansion of wind and solar power plants should be passed on to all electricity consumers in Germany. "The energy transition is a joint task and investment in the grids benefits everyone. We want to achieve a fairer distribution of costs," explained Klaus Müller, President of the authorities. The grid fees are part of the electricity price.

Grid costs are borne by electricity customers via the grid fees. Because a lot is being invested in the grids in large parts of northern and north-eastern Germany due to the strong expansion of renewables, the grid fees there are noticeably higher than in other regions. "The wind turbine outside the living room window and the high electricity bill in the letterbox," criticized Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke.

According to the grid agency, the charges in some grid areas are up to 15 cents per kilowatt hour. On the other hand, there are regions where they are below 5 cents. There are also significant differences within the federal states. The authority cited Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg as examples. "This development has taken on an unacceptable dimension over the years," argues the grid agency. It would become even worse with the expansion of renewables.

According to the key points, 17 grid operators would currently be entitled to pass on their additional costs to all electricity consumers. The 17 operators supply around 10.5 million grid users. "Their grid fees would fall by up to 25 percent." Grid operators in Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Saxony-Anhalt in particular would benefit. There would also be noticeable relief in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bavaria and Lower Saxony.

The authority emphasized that the significant relief for the affected regions would be offset by manageable additional costs for all electricity consumers. An average household with an annual consumption of 3,500 kilowatt hours would incur additional costs of 8.40 euros per year.

The authority is now putting its proposal up for discussion. It will then draw up the final regulation in a multi-stage process. It should come into force on January 1, 2025 at the earliest.

Lesen Sie auch:

  1. Jörg Steinbach, the SPD politician from Brandenburg, supports the Federal Network Agency's proposal for a fairer distribution of electricity grid costs, especially for regions with a strong expansion of renewable energies.
  2. According to the Federal Network Agency, the higher costs in regions with a strong expansion of wind and solar power plants should be passed on to all electricity consumers in Germany.
  3. Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency, explains that the energy transition is a joint task and investing in grids benefits everyone, promoting a fairer distribution of costs.
  4. Dietmar Woidke, Brandenburg's Minister President, criticizes the situation where households with wind turbines have high electricity bills due to the strong expansion of renewables in their regions.
  5. The grid agency argues that charges in some grid areas, like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, are up to 15 cents per kilowatt hour, while others are below 5 cents, leading to unacceptable differences in costs.
  6. The reform proposal, if implemented, could result in average household savings of up to 120 euros a year in regions with a strong expansion of wind and solar power, according to the Federal Network Agency.
  7. The Federal Network Agency's proposal calls for 17 grid operators to pass on their additional costs to all electricity consumers, benefiting regions like Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony-Anhalt, with notable relief in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony.

Source: www.stern.de

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