{"id":22366,"date":"2025-09-16T21:35:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.haslinger-nagele.com\/elwg-check-was-kostet-das-stromnetz\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T08:43:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T06:43:09","slug":"elwg-check-was-kostet-das-stromnetz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.haslinger-nagele.com\/en\/elwg-check-was-kostet-das-stromnetz\/","title":{"rendered":"ElWG Check 2.0: What does the power grid cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG) aims to adjust the rules for using the power grids. The focus is on system usage fees, i.e., the fees that all grid users pay for access to and use of the grid. In the future, these charges are to be paid increasingly by electricity producers. But what does this mean in practice \u2013 and why is this topic drawing so much criticism?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The transformation of our electricity system is a task for society as a whole \u2013 and clarity, fairness, and a willingness to innovate are our guiding principles.”<\/strong>

<\/em><\/p>\nFederal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism \u2013 Hattmannsdorfer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

ElWOG vs. ElWG \u2013 what is changing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, the ElWG is intended to simplify system usage fees<\/strong>. The number of different fees will be reduced. For example, the fee for metering services<\/strong> will be eliminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. From network access and network provision to grid connection fees<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Previously, a distinction was made between network access fees and network provision fees<\/strong>. In the future, these will be merged and levied as a network connection fee<\/strong> (section 122 ElWG). This fee covers the construction of the initial physical grid connection. The goal is to achieve simplification while also promising greater transparency in the cost structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there is criticism<\/strong> from the producer side: Industry associations<\/strong> warn that the new regulation effectively introduces a new fee for producers through the back door (namely the network provision fee) and thus jeopardizes the economic viability of projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, representatives<\/strong> from the grid sector have expressed positive views, welcoming the new, stronger weighting of the performance component in the fee regulations, as it enables a more cost-causation-based allocation of grid costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Network usage fees also for feeders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arguably the most controversial change: According to section 120(2) ElWG<\/strong>, feeders \u2013 i.e., producers of (green) electricity<\/strong> \u2013 will also have to pay network usage fees<\/strong> in the future, not just consumers. This means that operators of PV systems or wind farms will face additional charges. The network usage fee serves to cover the grid operator\u2019s expenses for the construction, expansion, maintenance, and operation of the grid system, i.e., the provision of a functional grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statements<\/strong> from industry associations on these changes are correspondingly clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n