Expensive power grids: costs could soon triple

Created: 09/24/2022, 06:25

By: Matthew Schneider

Network charges could triple in Germany in October.

(Iconic image) © Federico Gambarini/dpa

The transmission system operators will probably soon triple the cost of their network fees due to increased costs.

An expert explains the causes and consequences for the consumer.

Munich – The German transmission system operators will probably triple their network fees in October.

This emerges from a letter from the transmission system operator Amprion, which is available to the Munich Merkur.

The transmission network charges are part of the network charges that consumers find on their electricity bills.

The reason for this is the increased costs for grid control.

Detlef Fischer, General Manager at the Bavarian Energy and Water Industry Association: "The network charges of the transmission system operators also include the costs for the so-called redispatch."

Fischer explains this with an example: If there is more wind power in the north than can be consumed and transported to the south, the wind turbines are curtailed and the operators are compensated financially.

If there is a power deficit in the south at that time, for example because there is not enough solar power, the gas-fired power plants are ramped up.

"This procedure has become extremely expensive because of the high energy prices," he explains.

Millions of gas customers in Germany are threatened with a whopping price increase by their suppliers.

But who is turning the price screw the most?

Possible tripling of network charges: costs could be cushioned by the federal government

When asked, Amprion did not want to comment on the extent of the network fee increase, the letter mentions 120 to 300 percent.

The federal government is apparently currently considering cushioning the costs before they are introduced: "We are in discussion with politicians about this," said an Amprion spokeswoman.

The Federal Ministry of Economics could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Detlef Fischer from the suppliers said that higher costs can also be expected for the distribution network operators, who are subordinate to the transmission networks.

"Each network operator has to calculate around three percent of the physical energy loss in their network charges." Without subsidies, the costs would have consequences for consumers overall: "One will probably have to calculate between two and five cents per kilowatt hour for household customers." (

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