Operators fear court decision could hamstring investment in German power grids
A decision by Germany鈥檚 Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to cap grid operators鈥� profits has led to a 鈥渞evolt鈥� in the industry, Michael Gassmann writes for Die Welt. Over 1,000 companies, including many municipal utilities, have filed a complaint against the BNetzA arguing reduced profits led to a lack of 鈥�urgently needed investments鈥� in the grid, Gassmann says. The need for investment in the grid is evident from the increasing number of grid interventions to balance intermittent power supply from renewable energy installations, which cost grid operator TenneT, for example, nearly 1 billion euros in 2017, he writes. A family of four with average power consumption would have to pay around 40 euros per year in grid fees to allow operators to carry out the necessary upgrades, Gassmann says. On 17 January, a court in D眉sseldorf will decide on the maximum permissible profits by grid operators.
Read the article in German .
See the 威力彩玩法 dossier The energy transition and Germany鈥檚 power grid for more information.