Most of the wind energy comes from the north. But the northern federal states do not benefit from cheaper electricity prices. The President of the Federal Network Agency wants to change that. His suggestion: lower network charges for these regions.
The Federal Network Agency has spoken out in favor of reforming electricity prices with lower fees for regions with a lot of wind power. The authority’s president, Klaus Müller, told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that there was a draft law in the Bundestag that would authorize the network agency to introduce fair network charges. “Once the law is passed, we will make a proposal for the reform.”
So far, regions that rely particularly on wind power have been particularly heavily burdened financially. Federal states in the north – with a comparatively high production of renewable energies – currently see themselves at a disadvantage because they pay higher costs than in southern Germany due to the necessary grid expansion. “I don’t meet any energy ministers in the federal states who still approve of this historically grown system,” said Müller. Finally, regions in southern Germany are also affected, in which many wind turbines are set up and connected to the grid.
His impression is that the energy ministers of all federal states are behind his reform plans. “Because it is obvious that we should reward the expansion of renewables. I can understand the frustration of many citizens and regions.”
“Relying on close dialogue with the federal states”
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Economics said with regard to renewable energies that the goal must be to make the expansion-related network costs between the regions fair. European requirements must be observed for this. “At the same time, we rely on a close dialogue with and between the federal states.”
According to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, network charges must be determined by an independent regulatory authority. In Germany, this is the network agency. In May, the cabinet initiated a corresponding amendment to the Energy Industry Act.
Federal states in the north see themselves disadvantaged
An electricity price reform has been discussed for a long time. Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Claus Ruhe Madsen, said in June: “It is unacceptable that the highest grid fees are paid in northern Germany because we produce the energy there and ensure that the electricity ultimately comes south.”
On the other hand, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder said in May that electricity could not be more expensive in the south and cheaper in the north.