The debate about the future of grid fees has begun – and it could develop into the biggest reform of the electricity pricing system since the liberalization of the energy market. What was previously considered a technical side issue is increasingly becoming a central cost factor: The Network fees threaten to explode, while political safeguards are dismantled and new surcharges are introduced. Background: The current Electricity Grid Fee Ordinance (StromNEV) expires on December 31, 2028 – and with it numerous special regulations, such as those under § 19 StromNEV, like the baseline load privilege or atypical grid usage. Transitional regulations are to apply as early as 2026. The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has initiated the debate on Reform of electricity grid charges Just opened.
The cost of electricity for businesses is rising – not despitebut due to the energy transition.
Network charges are developing into the most important cost driver.
Even today, grid fees account for around a third of the industrial electricity price. But that's just the beginning:
- Over 700 billion euros is the estimated financing requirement for grid expansion by 2045.
- The University of Cologne predicts at least Doubling the grid fees until then. Initial scenarios speak of:
- 15 cents/kWh for medium voltage
- over 18 cents/kWh for low voltage
This is a threefold increase compared to today's average values in many regions.
Farewell to the StromNEV – and to all familiar privileges
The current Electricity Grid Charges Regulation (StromNEV) expires without replacement on December 31, 2028. Particularly affected: energy-intensive companies that have so far benefited from special regulations such as § 19 StromNEV (Atypical grid usage, Belt load or the 7,000-hour rule) have benefited. These privileges will expire by 2026 at the latest, without a new, reliable system being in place.
The Federal Network Agency is currently openly discussing a completely new tariff system. What is clear is:
- The EU Commission prohibits future network fee exemptions without clear system benefit.
- Discounts for purely industrial policy reasons – such as promoting a location – are explicitly impermissible.
- Even the previous „Special Compensation Scheme“ (BesAR) under the Energy Financing Act (EnFG) – with annual relief of €5 billion – expires in 2027.
New burdens and compensations are also added.
Increased electricity costs are no longer a hypothetical risk – they are a reality and legally enshrined:
- New levy due to the Power Plant Safety Act (KWSG): + approx. 2 cents/kWh
- Elimination of the peak compensation (§ 10 Electricity Tax Act / § 55 Energy Tax Act): + €1.5 billion/year burden
- The announced reduction of electricity tax to the EU minimum (0.05 ct/kWh) is unclear and is intended to apply only to the manufacturing sector – other companies will be left out.
- And: This reduction is intended to be temporary – afterwards, there's a risk of a relapse to 2.05 ct/kWh
What the Federal Network Agency is planning and what is (not yet) certain
Since May 2025, the Federal Network Agency has been openly discussing the future structure of grid fees. Profound changes are on the table:
- Moving away from the pure consumption principleIn the future, flat-rate basic charges, capacity fees, or network-related usage charges could be introduced.
- Integration of Infeeders into the grid costs – currently only end consumers pay.
- Dynamic grid charges with time-of-day or location-based pricing as a long-term goal.
- Special Regulations for Storage And prosumer models.
But one thing is clear: today's grid fee logic will no longer exist. And a new, sustainable model will only take effect from 2029 – provided the reform process proceeds as planned.
Companies must prepare for higher electricity ancillary costs.
The next big wave of electricity price increases is coming – not through the market, but through regulation. While many companies are trying to optimize their electricity procurement, they are increasingly falling into a cost trap due to taxes, levies, and grid fees.
What you should do now:
- Investigate investments in self-sufficiency, storage, and flexibility
- Minimize electricity consumption and grid usage.
- Give greater weight to ancillary energy costs in energy controlling
- Strategically prepare for exiting § 19 benefits
- Actively monitor regulatory developments
The transformation of the energy sector is necessary – but it won't be free. For companies, this means: Electricity prices will become predictably more expensive.
More on the status of grid tariff reform in our article AgNes-Interim Report 2026.