The municipal utilities are calling for an obligation to connect to the local district heating network. (Symbolic image) © Marcus Brandt/dpa
The municipal utilities advise owners in view of the planned heating law of Economics Minister Habeck to wait and see. They are calling for compulsory connection to the local district heating network.
Berlin – The planned heating law of Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is unsettling Germany's heating owners. The municipal utilities advise owners in the debate about the future heat supply to wait and see. In addition, they bring into play an obligation to connect to local district heating networks.
Municipal utilities on the heating system replacement: "Please keep your feet still and wait with the decision"
It is "not absurd to talk about an obligation for households to connect to an existing heating network," said the chief executive of the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU), Ingbert Liebing, the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung on Friday.
At the same time, Liebing asked for patience. According to the government's draft law on municipal heat planning, cities and municipalities would have to have their plans ready by the end of 2027 at the latest. "I therefore advise all households that are considering changing their heating: Please keep your feet still and wait with the decision," said the VKU boss of the newspaper. "If you are in a hurry, you can also ask the municipal supplier whether district heating could become an option or not. In many cases, there will then be an orientation."
Municipal utilities promote district heating networks
District heating networks have a "huge advantage" over individual solutions such as heat pumps or gas boilers, Liebing advertised: "When switching to renewable energy sources, all connected buildings benefit in one fell swoop." Liebing called on the government to adapt its funding guidelines accordingly. "Where municipal planning provides for heating networks, the state must not promote the installation of heat pumps at the same time."
At the same time, he was optimistic about the climate-friendliness of district heating, which is often generated with fossil fuels today. "We are certain that all existing district heating networks can become climate-neutral by 2045 - in many places much earlier," said Liebing.
Even where coal-fired power plants are used today, this is feasible. "After all, the possibilities are manifold: large-scale heat pumps, solar thermal energy, biomass, geothermal energy, waste heat and combined heat and power plants that will be powered by hydrogen in the future."
District heating: Consumer advocates complain about non-transparent prices
Meanwhile, the Federation of German Consumer Organisations complains that the district heating market must finally be made more consumer-friendly. "The complaints to the consumer centers about non-transparent prices and incomprehensible price increases show that there is a great deal of ambiguity and problems here," said board member Ramona Pop. "A nationwide, systematic price supervision could take a look at the heating market and the pricing of suppliers."
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Economics Minister Habeck and Construction Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) have invited representatives of the industry to a "district heating summit" next Monday in Berlin. According to ministries, a "clear signal of departure" is to be sent for the climate-neutral conversion and expansion of the district heating supply. (lma/AFP)
With material from dpa
