The New regulations for the distribution of grid costs by the Federal Network Agency from 2025 are related to the ongoing expansion of renewable energies in Germany, particularly wind and solar power plants. These regulations are intended to reduce the financial burden on Electricity grid chargesthat were previously unevenly distributed regionally. In particular, regions that have invested heavily in the generation of renewable energy will be relieved.
As a first step, 178 of the approximately 900 distribution system operators affected by the new "rolling mechanism" have been identified in recent months. For this purpose, a surcharge will be levied on the electricity consumption of all consumers in Germany and returned using a new distribution key. In 2025, around 2.4 billion euros be redistributed. The four German transmission system operators 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW estimate the Surcharge for special grid usage on 1.558 ct/kWh. This amount, which is incurred for non-privileged end consumers, is allocated to the affected distribution system operators and compensates for the lost revenue resulting from the reduced grid fees in certain regions. It thus becomes fixed Electricity price component 2025.
The surcharges are similar to the previous § 19 StromNEV levy, which serves to distribute grid costs between all electricity consumers. They are shown in the electricity bill as a ct/kWh amount and depend on various factors, such as the lost revenue of the grid operators and the forecast electricity consumption.
Background to the new industry model
In recent years, the expansion of renewable energies, particularly in northern and eastern Germany, has led to considerable network expansion costs led to this. Regions such as Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which generate a lot of electricity from wind power and large-scale solar installations, had to bear high costs for the expansion and adaptation of the grid infrastructure. These costs have so far been largely regionally apportionedwhich meant that consumers and companies in these areas were significantly higher grid fees had to pay. The new industry model is now intended to ensure that the additional costs are redistributed more fairly.
Various distribution system operators had already announced electricity price reductions for private households of up to EUR 200 per year before the surcharge for special grid usage was announced. It remains to be seen to what extent companies and large consumers in these regions will also benefit from this. On the other hand, regions with a lower burden due to the expansion of renewable energies, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg or Bavaria, could benefit in 2025. Slight increases in grid fees list.
Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency, emphasized in advance that this new regulation is intended to create "fair grid fees" in order to support the people and companies in the affected regions. It is also hoped that the fairer distribution of costs will increase acceptance for the further expansion of renewable energies.
Mechanism of the new regulation for the distribution of grid costs
The underlying mechanism is based on a multi-stage model that is continuously updated. First, it is determined whether a grid operator is affected by special costs due to the expansion of renewable energies. This is done using a key figure based on the generation capacity connected to the grid. If a grid operator's key figure exceeds a certain threshold value, it can distribute a portion of the costs incurred through the integration of renewable energies nationwide.
Another aspect of the mechanism concerns smaller, downstream grid operators, such as municipal utilities. These benefit indirectly from the falling grid fees of the larger regional suppliers to whose grid they are connected, even if they themselves are not affected by the cost allocation. For example, the regional supplier E.DIS Netz GmbH in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is relieved, which in turn also has an impact on the smaller connected grid operators in the region.
The tiered model in the new regulation for the distribution of grid costs
The new regulation is based on a graduated model that will be continuously adapted in the future:
- Determining the loadThe first step is to determine whether a grid operator is affected by special costs due to the expansion of renewable energies. For this purpose, a key figure is developed that measures the ratio between the installed capacity of renewable energies and electricity consumption in the respective region.
- Financial compensation for grid operatorsGrid operators who can demonstrate a high load will receive financial compensation to cover the additional costs caused by the expansion of renewable energies.
- Nationwide distribution of costsThe financial compensation payments to these grid operators will then be passed on to all electricity consumers nationwide. This means that all electricity consumers in Germany bear the costs of grid expansion, not just those in regions with a high level of RE expansion.
Surcharge for special grid usage for fairer distribution of grid costs
The new regulation for the distribution of grid costs from 2025 is intended to distribute the previously unevenly distributed financial burden of grid expansion for renewable energies more fairly across all electricity consumers in Germany. Regions with a high proportion of wind and solar energy, which were previously heavily burdened, are to be relieved, while in other areas, such as Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia, slight increases in grid fees are possible. The underlying mechanism provides for a nationwide apportionment of costs, which will be realized via a surcharge for all consumers. The aim of the reform is to achieve a more balanced distribution of grid expansion costs and to promote greater acceptance for the expansion of renewable energies in the long term.