Grid fee discounts only for grid-friendly behavior

11.11.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The Federal Network Agency is reviewing the grid fee structure for industrial electricity consumers. The transmission system operators have now commented.

The four transmission system operators (TSOs) have issued a joint statement on the Federal Network Agency's discussion paper on the structure of grid fees for industry and commerce. According to the paper, 50 Hertz, Amprion, Tennet and Transnet BW are in favor of a special grid fee, i.e. possible discounts, being "more closely aligned with the provision of flexibility in the future".

Section 19 of the Electricity Grid Charges Ordinance allows large electricity consumers to apply for discounts on grid charges under certain conditions. The TSOs generally support the Federal Network Agency's aim to move away from rigid band load privileges towards flexible incentive systems, it continues.

In a discussion paper published in September, the authority in Bonn is striving for a fundamental reform of grid fees for industry and commerce. The aim is to realign the current special charges in accordance with Section 19 (2) (StromNEV). The current system rewards companies that use electricity as evenly as possible over the course of the year - i.e. that use band loads. However, according to the authorities and industry representatives, this regulation is no longer up to date.

Due to the growing share of renewable energies with strongly fluctuating feed-in, the electricity system needs more flexibility, not consistency. The four TSOs therefore welcome the Federal Network Agency's initiative and agree to "align a special grid fee more closely with the provision of flexibility in future", they say.

Clear separation of market and grid-serving flexibility

However, the transmission system operators are calling for a clear separation between market and grid-serving flexibility. Only the latter contributes to the stabilization of the overall system. The grid operators therefore suggest that in future, discounts should be linked to transparent signals published by grid operators that enable coordinated load shifting.

They are also calling for uniform regulations across all grid levels. Without coordinated standards between transmission and distribution grid operators, there is a risk of mismanagement or distortion of competition. Incentive systems should also be designed gradually in order to avoid "toggle switch effects" - i.e. situations in which a company completely loses its entitlement to a discount due to minimal deviations.

The Federal Network Agency intends to continue the consultation until 2026.

Transitional regulations are intended to ensure that existing fee agreements do not end abruptly. According to the agency, there are currently around 560 individual grid fee agreements in place, which save the industry around 1.4 billion euros annually. In future, these will only be permitted if the companies concerned make a measurable contribution to system or grid stability.

Energy-intensive industry is therefore facing a fundamental change. In future, companies will have to prove that their electricity consumption is not only plannable, but also flexible and beneficial to the system. The consultation on the discussion paper is ongoing; no specific deadlines have yet been set for definition and implementation. Industry representatives expect the results to be available in 2026 and new regulations could come into force from 2027.

The Federal Network Agency's "Discussion paper on charges for industry and commerce" and the transmission system operators' "Statement on the discussion paper" are available to download online.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister