As of: February 11, 2024, 11:00 a.m
By: Bettina Stuhlweißenburg
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2022 was not a good year for geothermal energy, a subsidiary of the Holzkirchen municipal utility.
© THOMAS PLETTENBERG
For the first time in the history of Holzkirchner Gemeindewerke, the profits from gas and electricity in 2022 were not enough to cover deficits in other business areas.
It wasn't a happy year for geothermal energy either.
Holzkirchen – The good news first: Gemeindewerke Holzkirchen GmbH was able to fulfill its main task in 2022 – the secure supply of electricity, water and, if desired, natural gas and district heating to citizens.
This was by no means a given, as managing director Albert Götz made clear at the local council meeting on Thursday evening.
On the agenda was the approval and discharge of the annual financial statements of the municipal companies, including the municipal utilities and their subsidiary, geothermal energy.
“Everything was turned upside down,” said Götz.
There have also been federal conferences with small utility companies, with specific blackout scenarios.
Among other things, there was a requirement to no longer use gas to generate electricity.
“The situation was serious.
We’re just glad it didn’t turn out like that.”
The bad news: For the first time in the history of the municipal utility, which was founded in 1894 and has been run as a GmbH since 2001, the profits from the gas and electricity divisions in 2022 were not enough to cover the deficit in the telecommunications, indoor swimming pool, heat and water divisions.
“We hope that this is a one-off blip in results,” said Mayor Christoph Schmid (CSU).
He attributes the poor result primarily to the international upheaval in the wake of the Ukraine war and the energy crisis.
As is well known, electricity and gas prices have exploded on the procurement markets.
In addition, many Holzkirchen residents responded to the appeal to save energy, said Schmid, which is reflected in the numbers.
Municipal Works GmbH
In the electricity division, the company's profit in 2022 fell by 248,908 euros compared to the previous year.
The report records a result of 695,618 euros.
In 2021 it was still 955,526 euros.
At the same time, the amount of electricity generated was slightly higher than the previous year at 70,688 MWh.
In the gas sector, municipal utilities recorded a company result of 272,227 euros for 2022, which is a minus of 12,123 euros compared to the previous year with a company result of 284,350 euros.
The negative corporate result for water amounting to -65,983 euros worsened by 131,468 euros compared to the previous year (65,485 euros).
The deterioration in operating results for district heating is significant.
From 115,843 euros in 2021, it fell by 993,066 euros into negative territory to -877,222 euros.
For telecommunications, the deficit amounts to -159,071 euros (previous year: 146,605 euros), and for the Batusa indoor swimming pool it is -1,009,073 euros (previous year: -821,371 euros).
The local council approved the audited annual financial statements for the municipal utilities with a negative annual result of -1,005,121 euros and discharged the management and the supervisory board.
Simon Ammer (SPD) emphasized that the municipal utilities are not the cheapest energy supplier, but are a very reliable one.
While energy giants canceled the contracts of numerous customers because they could no longer make money under the current conditions, supply was guaranteed by the municipal utilities.
Martin Taubenberger (FWG) added that municipal utility customers do not have to wait in queues for hours, but have a regional contact person.
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Geothermal Energy GmbH
For Geothermie Holzkirchen GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the municipal utility, the year 2022 was “not the happiest,” as Mayor Schmid said.
The company struggled with multiple pump failures (we reported).
While geothermal energy only had a deficit of -48,909 euros in 2021, this will add up to a loss of 1,369,160 euros in 2022.
However, Schmid emphasized, this takes into account a depreciation of around two million for the system, “expenses that are not expenses,” said Schmid.
Overall, geothermal energy therefore recorded a “slightly positive cash flow”.
379,889 euros were invested in the reporting year.
The local council discharged the management.
Simon Ammer (SPD) said with regard to the pump failures: “Geothermal energy is a piece of gold, but not a cash cow.” In terms of climate friendliness, it is a win.
Josef Sappl Senior said: “The pump manufacturers are learning and that’s why I have good hope that it will work in the long term.”
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